Simulation of Motorcycle-Car Collision

Numerical simulation of motorcycle-car collisions is one of the most effective tools in research on motorcycle passive safety, considering the diversity of collision configurations. In addition, due to the length of analysis time to be considered, the multi-body dynamics-based software "MADYMO" (MAthematical DYnamic MOdel) rather than FEM based software has been adopted as a basic simulation tool. In this research, a scooter-type motorcycle model for collision simulation was developed. Detailed modeling steps of the motorcycle model were presented at the 18th ESV conference. This paper presents 1) a general description of a motorcycle, car and dummy model for collision simulation, and 2) comparisons between the FST (Full Scale Test) and a simulation in which these models are used. As for collision configurations of FST, several of seven basic impact configurations recommended in ISO13232, which defines test and analysis procedures for research evaluation of rider crash protective devices fitted to motorcycles, were selected. The corresponding simulations were then carried out. As a result of validating the model with FST data, the dummy kinematics and dummy signals (such as head acceleration) obtained in simulations show qualitatively good agreement with FST results.