Numerical analysis of real-world cyclist crashes: impact speed, collision mechanism and movement trajectories

This paper describes the development and testing of a three-dimensional computer model of a bicycle and rider. The model was developed using MADYMO and will assist in the reconstruction of bicycle crashes. In particular the model will be used to determine the rider’s pre-impact speed and kinematics during the impact. Three exemplar real-world bicycle crashes were reconstructed using a multi-body system (MBS) modelling technique. The models were set up in accordance with crash information obtained from atscene investigations, and police and witness reports of exemplar collisions. The computer crash reconstructions gave reasonable representations of the real-world crashes. The modelling identified the influence of a number of input variables, eg. pre-crash speeds, and outputs, eg. cyclist trajectory. This study is a part of a major research project examining the performance of bicycle and motorcycle helmets. The computer simulations will assist in determining the head impact velocities in real world collisions.