Computer simulation of a motorcycle and dummy rider in impact

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This thesis is concerned with the simulation model of an OPAT dummy rider on a Norton motorcycle in different configured impacts with a rigid barrier. The mathematical equations used in describing the mass-spring-damper-based impacts have been given. The software used in designing the mathematical model have also been outlined. The simulation model was then calibrated against full scale crash tests by means of film analysis and the processed digitised measurements. This led to the investigations into numerical processing of differentiation and integration. A parametric study was also conducted to examine injury to the dummy rider based on some varying parameters. The simulation model was further verified by different configurations and also an introduction of an airbag. Finally, the model was extended to a HYBRID3 dummy rider on the same motorcycle in different configured impacts with a motor car. It is hoped that after the validations and verifications have been performed to examine the robustness of the simulation model, it can assist in the analyses of motorcycle impacts with the less frequent need of conducting a full scale crash test, so that safety design of a motorcycle can be established