Bumper shape design for pedestrian safety

The main cause of leg injuries is the bumper during car-pedestrian accidents. Bumper geometry and bumper material have the greatest effect on pedestrian leg injury. The first objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of bumper shape on pedestrian leg injuries. This study uses three bumper shapes on three car models to evaluate the effects of bumper geometry on pedestrian leg injury: A Ford Taurus, Dodge Intrepid, and Dodge-Neon. Then, based on the results of the impact between legform and bumper, this study chooses the best bumper shape that results in the least injury to the pedestrian’s leg. The second objective of this study is to design a new bumper. Using some conclusions regarding the effects of bumper shape on the pedestrian leg injuries, a new pedestrian-friendly bumper was designed. This bumper satisfies EEVC/WG17 safety requirements regarding pedestrian leg injuries. The analyzed models and results obtained could help evaluate pedestrian friendliness of a vehicle and guide the future designing and development of pedestrian friendly vehicle technologies.