| Toyota has developed a computer model which simulates the human body, called Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS). Using the THUMS model, the FIA Institute and Toyota have been able to study injuries to individual areas that are difficult to measure with crash-test dummies. The results of this study will be compiled shortly.
The FIA Institute targeted this technology specifically to help study injurious forces during high speed rear impact crashes in the FIA Formula One World Championship and Indy Racing League (IRL). The THUMS technology has proved an effective tool in simulating the complex interaction between the driver’s body and the car.
The FIA Institute and Dr Terry Trammell, a fellow of the FIA Institute and consultant to IRL, have been providing Toyota with data on such accidents and information on racecar seat structure. Toyota has been using the data and information to carry out virtual collisions using THUMS and simulated racecar seat designs, which have succeeded in replicating spinal injuries from high-speed backward collisions.
This cooperative effort has led to a determination of the mechanism for spinal-stress buildup — the result of a combination of g-forces and the unique seating position used in F1 and IRL racecars. The research has prompted considerations for measures to reduce stress on the spine during backward collisions.
The FIA expects this effort to lead to improved safety for F1, IRL and other single-seater race car championships. |
