EFFECTS OF CYCLIST RIDING POSTURE ON HEAD KINEMATICS RESPONSE AND INJURY IN VEHICLE–BICYCLE COLLISION

This study aims to investigate the effects of a cyclist’s riding posture on the kinematic response and head injury severity involved in car–bicycle collision. For this purpose, the finite element (FE) model of a common shared bicycle was developed based on its geometric parameters and a 50% THUMS human FE model was employed to conduct this study. Furthermore, a total of 4 simulation tests were carried out via using four riding postures (pedal [Formula: see text], pedal [Formula: see text], pedal [Formula: see text], pedal [Formula: see text]) with an impact speed of 40[Formula: see text]km/h and riding speed of 10[Formula: see text]km/h. Finally, the head kinematic responses and injury severity were analyzed by employing the output head kinematic and injury parameters. The results revealed that head kinematic responses and kinematic injury criteria varied with the different riding postures. The head responses were similar between the pedal [Formula: see text] and pedal [Formula: see text] postures, as well as between the pedal [Formula: see text] and pedal [Formula: see text] postures. The head injury risk was lowest in the pedal [Formula: see text] posture. It was notable that the brain tissue injury criterion in the pedal [Formula: see text] posture showed significant differences with other riding postures. It was exhibited that a maximum principal strain was 41% to 84% higher and the magnitude of shear stress was 22% to 27% of that in other riding postures. The results of this study may provide insights to enhance safety measures for cyclists.