Phenomenological continuous contact–impact modelling for multibody simulations of pedestrian–vehicle contact interactions based on experimental data

Multibody modelling of pedestrian collisions requires the definition of contact–impact between the pedestrian and the vehicle. An examination of relevant impact test data reveals large rate-dependent components of the reaction force, permanent indentation, and concomitant energy loss. Contact–impact models previously used in simulations of pedestrian impacts typically have not adequately modelled one, two or all three of these phenomena. This paper presents a phenomenological contact–impact model based on the Hunt–Crossley model of impact, which includes rate-dependent damping, and is extended to include permanent indentation. The proposed model suitably characterises impact test data in a form that can also be implemented in the multibody simulation code MADYMO (TASS-Safe, Netherlands). The proposed contact–impact model was used to characterise the impact between a legform and the bumper of a vehicle, based on two impact tests conducted at different impact speeds. A single contact–impact definition in MADYMO closely reproduced the dynamics of both tests. The proposed model may be suitable in a wide range of impact conditions where the impact is modelled using multibody techniques and it is practicable to conduct impact tests as part of the modelling process.