The identification of damping and stiffness parameters of a driver model on the basis of crash tests

The following paper presents the identification of damping and stiffness parameters o f a man model on the basis of crash tests conducted in PIMot. The frame analysis of the film with a registered crash test was conducted. On the basis of this analysis there were prepared the characteristics of horizontal and vertical displacements in time function and a movement trajectory for each part of the dummy. Theses characteristics were used in an identification procedure. The values of identified parameters were stipulated in the work. The correctness of obtained results has been illustrated by the comparison of results of tests and a computer simulation conducted with the use o f a dynamic man model and identified parameters values. Obtained results were used to conduct simulations which show the influence of an age weakened muscle structure of a man (manifested with the decrease of the values of damping and stiffness parameters) onto the man movement during a crash. Additionally it has been illustrated the conformity of obtained test results through the presentation of frames of the film from the test with a model outline from computer simulation. Conducted simulations demonstrate that more serious injuries during car crashes with elderly people may be caused not only by a age decreasing man body strength.