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The goal of this study was to develop injury probability functions for the leg bending moment and MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) elongation of the Flexible Pedestrian Legform Impactor (Flex-PLI) based on human response data available from the literature. Data for the leg bending moment at fracture in dynamic 3-point bending were geometrically scaled to an average male using the standard lengths obtained from the anthropometric study, based on which the dimensions of the Flex-PLI were determined. Both male and female data were included since there was no statistically significant difference in bone material property. Since the data included both right censored and uncensored data, the Weibull Survival Model was used to develop a human leg fracture probability function.

Regarding THOR-50AM dummy lower extremities (hereafter referred to as ""THOR''and ""THOR-LX'') developed as an assembly of lower extremities for next-generation dummies in frontal impact test, we have conducted a series of tests as follows. HYGE sled tests with a toe-board simulating the impact upon intrusion into the vehicle compartment around the occupant feet, dummy dropping tests with two different postures; one is the upright posture with the knees set straight and another is the posture with the knees bent, in order to apply impact loads and to measure/evaluate the impact response characteristics.

The structural differences between the Thor-NT and Thor-FT dummies, which have been proposed as next-generation dummies for frontal crash tests, were examined and the differences in dynamic response were verified by testing. Tests were performed on a HYGE sled simulating a frontal crash at an impact speed of 56 km/h. The 3-point seatbelt plus air bag combination was adopted as the restraint mechanism. Differences in characteristics of the two dummies in the neck, thorax, and abdomen were found by calibration tests. Test results showed that the variation in shape of the abdominal area of the pelvis generates some disparity in the flexion of the thorax and abdomen.

A new abdominal deformation measuring system for Hybrid III dummy has been developed in order to evaluate the abdominal injury by using the dummy. From the dynamic abdominal deformation of the dummy, the abdominal compression velocity V, the compression ratio C, and the maximum value of the product VC, expressed as [VC]MAX, can be calculated. This abdominal deformation measuring system consists of an abdominal insert having the same compression characteristics as those of the human body, a dynamic deformation sensor, and an analysis program. The abdominal insert is made of elastic foam rubber and has a shape fitted to Hybrid III. The deformation sensor in a band shape is a thin stainless steel band with 25 strain gauges on it. Each strain gauge measures the curvature on its mounted position. Since the deformation sensor is located along the surface of the dummy abdomen, the sensor deforms as the dummy surface deforms.

Three improvements for the Hybrid III dummy parts are proposed by NHTSA, they are the neck shield, hip joint, and ankle joint In this paper, two modifications of the three, the neck shield and hip joint, are evaluated The recommended neck shield was tested and compared to the previous type to investigate the following, 1 The effect of the neck moment on both the recommended and previous type, and 2 The comparison between the stiffness of the neck shield and human soft tissue under the chin, using a volunteer static test From these tests, the new recommended neck shield performed better than the previous type with respect to both biofidelity and the effect on the neck moment test The neck shield for 5th-percentile female was also considered The hip joint recommended by NHTSA was compared with the modified joint and pelvis proposed by Toyota It was found that the NHTSA's recommended hip joint eliminated the hip lock due to metal-to-metal contact It was also found that the maximum rotation angle of the NHTSA's recommended hip joint was less than that of the hip joint and pelvis proposed by Toyota

The human body undergoes a variety of changes as it ages through adulthood. These include both morphological (structural) changes (e.g., increased thoracic kyphosis) and material changes (e.g., osteoporosis). The purpose of this study is to evaluate structural changes that occur in the aging bony thorax and to assess the importance of these changes relative to the well-established material changes. The study involved two primary components. First, full-thorax computed tomography (CT) scans of 161 patients, age 18 to 89 years, were analyzed to quantify the angle of the ribs in the sagittal plane. A significant association between the angle of the ribs and age was identified, with the ribs becoming more perpendicular to the spine as age increased (0.08 degrees/year, p=0.012). Next, a finite element model of the thorax was used to evaluate the importance of this rib angle change relative to other factors associated with aging.