Parametric Identification of Multibody Models for Crash Victim Simulation

This paper concerns the parametric identification ofmultibody system models used to predict vehicleoccupant dynamics during crash impacts. The workconsiders the problem of identifying contactinteractions between a standard anthropomorphic dummyand its surrounding surfaces -- seat, belt, airbag, etc. -- directly from measured kinematic data. The central theme is that identification is viable, even in caseswhere there is only limited test data available, andwhere serious problems of ill-conditioning arise. Though the study is restricted to simulation data, and the models are simplified, the work has potential invehicle safety improvement, by providing validatedsystem models for use in restraint systemoptimisation. The methods presented may also prove useful in the wider class of multibody systemidentification problems.