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In order to assess the seating comfort design of a vehicle seat system, a full finite element occupant model, with anatomically precise features and deformable tissues, has been developed. This paper describes the experiments which were performed in order to assess the biofidelic accuracy of this model. First, static pressure distribution measurements, with human volunteers, have been performed. People of different morphological types were asked to sit on a PU foam cushion with various postures, which were captured by photographs and X-Ray measurements. Pressure sensors were used to determine the corresponding pressure distribution patterns. Then, the FE occupant model was used to simulate the same experiments, and the numerical results were compared to the experimental ones.

In order to improve the biofidelity of a finite element human body model, previously introduced as PAM-Comfort model, the modeling of lumbar spine, buttock and trunk back flesh and abdominal part have been updated. The modeling of the lumbar spine has been improved for its mechanical characteristics of articulation. The modeling of abdominal part has been switched with solid mesh from the air-bag with membrane elements to enhance the mass distribution feature of the model. The mesh quality of buttock and trunk back flesh became finer for a more accurate prediction of seating pressure distribution. The new features of the model were verified by the experimental data with human subjects.