Optimization of Material Parameters for Crash Test Dummies

Abstract Finite element representations of crash test dummies are widely used in the simulation of vehicle safety systems. The biofidelity of such models is strongly dependent on the accurate representation of the nonlinear behavior of constituent rubber, plastic, and foam materials. This article presents a simulation workflow in which material parameters are more easily optimized and demonstrates its use in the calibration of a viscoelastic model for the behavior of rubber-like materials in a side-impact dummy.