Analysis of head injuries of motorcyclist colliding with cars in traffic conditions in Vietnam

Abstract In Vietnam, motorbikes are a commonly used means of road transport because of their high mobility and low price. Therefore, traffic accidents involving motorbikes are increasing. When an accident occurs, the motorcyclist is the most vulnerable to injury and death. The majority of deaths of motorcyclists are related to head injuries. This study aims to analyze motorcyclists’ head injuries by simulating a car motorbike accident. The THUMS AM50 (Total Human Model for Safety-50th percentile adult male) human model is scaled to fit the average stature of men in Vietnam and is named V-THUMS (Vietnamese -Total Human Model for Safety). The finite element models of cars and motorbikes have been verified for correctness. Furthermore, a completely newly constructed half-helmet finite element model fits the head circumference of V-THUMS. Then, the V-THUMS model was set up to ride a motorbike and collide head-on with a Sedan car under different conditions (car velocity, motorbike velocity, impact angle, wearing a helmet, not wearing a helmet). To ensure accurate simulation, the grip force of the V-THUMS hand on the motorcycle handlebar was set. In this study, LS-PREPOST software was used to set up the simulation and LS-DYNA software to run simulations, output results. Parameters such as head injury criterion (HIC), cerebral Von Mises stress, cerebral MPS (maximum principal strain) and intracranial pressure are used to analyze head injuries. The results show that half-helmets play an important role in protecting and minimizing head injuries for motorcyclists. In all cases, the V-THUMS head hit the car hood during the initial impact, and the severity of head injuries increased with the velocity of the car and motorbike. At an impact angle of 0 0 , the V-THUMS head suffered the most severe injury. This study provides comprehensive knowledge about head injuries in motorcyclists and confirms the important role of helmets in protecting motorcyclists from head injuries. Thereby, contributing to the development of injury prevention measures and protective equipment for motorcyclists.