Development and Validation of a Computer Crash Simulation Model of an Occupied Adult Manual Wheelchair Subjected to a Frontal Impact
By Dsouza, R.; Bertocci, G.; Medical Engineering & Physics, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 272-279Publication Date: April 2010
Study developed and validated a computer model to simulate a wheelchair and occupant subjected to a frontal impact test. The performance of two identical, manual, adult wheelchairs was evaluated in accordance with the frontal impact testing procedures set forth in Volume 1, Annex A of Section 19 in the ANSI/RESNA Standards set forth by the American National Standards Institute and the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. Two frontal impact 20g/30 miles per hour WC19 sled tests were conducted using the wheelchairs, secured with 4-point tiedowns, each with a seated 50th percentile Hybrid III adult male anthropomorphic test device (ATD) restrained with a 3-point occupant restraint system. A model consisting of the sled platform, wheelchair, and ATD was developed to represent the utilized sled test configuration. The model was validated against sled test data using visual comparisons of wheelchair and occupant kinematics, as well as statistical assessment of outcome measures. All statistical evaluations were found to be within the acceptance criteria, indicating the model’s high predictability of the sled tests. The authors conclude that this model provides a useful tool for the development or crashworthy wheelchair design guidelines, as well as the development of transit safe wheelchair technologies.
Published by: Elsevier Inc. (Website:http://www.elsevier.com)
Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) (Web Site: http://www.ipem.ac.uk/ipem_public )
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number O18074
