Exponent’s consulting staff has a broad experience base and unmatched capabilities related to surrogate testing with volunteers and crash test dummies. Exponent’s biomechanical engineers can simulate the important aspects of an accident (or event) using a surrogate to ascertain the forces and/or motions that an individual would experience and the potential for injury. We use this engineering technique to analyze accidents, to assist with product development, and to improve safety standards. All testing is conducted in accordance with the appropriate United States or international standards.
Volunteer Testing
The biomechanical engineers at Exponent can recreate portions of accidents or events with volunteers. For analyses of injury claims, our engineers are able to design safe testing environments for volunteers that permit measurements of important analysis parameters. We also use volunteers to measure human motion during a variety of typical, everyday activities (such as walking and climbing stairs) and vigorous activities (such as running and jumping). Our volunteers have ranged from pediatric populations to elderly individuals. Before volunteer tests are conducted, all testing protocols and confidentiality agreements are reviewed and approved by an Internal Review Board at Exponent.
Transportation Accidents
The biomechanical engineers at Exponent use volunteers to measure important parameters for analysis of transportation-related accidents, such as automobile, railroad, and aircraft accidents. Our engineers use volunteers to determine the potential for occupant interaction with internal vehicle structures in an exemplar vehicle, whether the vehicle is on the ground or on a roll spit.
Figure 1. (left) Measuring the distances from a surrogate to internal vehicle structures; (right) a roll spit, which can be used to determine how an individual would move and interact with a vehicle during a rollover
Amusement Park Rides
The biomechanical engineers at Exponent use volunteers to measure forces and motions of individuals during fixed-site and mobile amusement park rides. Our engineers use volunteers and proprietary measurement equipment to determine rider motions, rider forces, and potential for occupant interaction with the occupant compartment. Our engineers are sensitive to scheduling issues with rides and can conduct tests during times when the park is closed to the general public.
Figure 2. High-speed video taken during testing of a bumper car
Recreational and Everyday Activities
The biomechanical engineers at Exponent use volunteers to measure forces and motions of individuals during recreational and everyday activities. The engineers at Exponent can use these measurements to determine the forces and motions of a typical individual or for a specific demographic. The recreational and everyday activities are often compared with the forces and motions during accidents and events with claimed injuries.
Figure 3a. (left) A stuntman was hired to recreate, in a safe environment, important aspects of a mountain biking accident
Figure 3b: (right) An individual wearing a head accelerometer was asked to skip rope as part of a study that examined head accelerations during vigorous activities of daily living
Crash Test Dummies
The biomechanical engineers at Exponent can recreate accidents with crash test dummies to measure body motions and forces. Crash test dummies are used to improve the repeatability of a test series and to conduct tests for which a volunteer would not be an appropriate surrogate—for example, when internal body forces need to be measured. Exponent has a wide selection of crash test dummies and can adjust their height and weight to re-create almost any size individual.
Figure 4. Crash test dummy at Exponent’s Testing and Engineering Center in Phoenix, AZ
Transportation Accidents
Exponent’s crash test dummy capabilities allow us to recreate a variety of accidents, including vehicle rollovers, vehicle-to-vehicle collisions, and motorcycle and bicycle accidents. Exponent’s biomechanical engineers can tailor the tests to simulate an entire accident sequence or to focus only on the portions of the accident that are relevant to the issue at hand.
Figure 5a. (left) A crash test dummy in a complete vehicle prior to impact
Figure 5b. (right) A motorcycle-sedan side impact collision was simulated using crash test dummies
Helmets and Protective Equipment Testing
Exponent’s biomechanical engineers have extensive experience in evaluating helmets and protective gear. Using crash test dummy heads and headforms that are specified by the U.S. government, our engineers evaluate the energy mitigation capabilities of headgear. As members of ASTM International, our engineers help formulate and improve the international standards for this equipment. Exponent has published studies and is conducting ongoing research in the areas of helmet and protective equipment effectiveness.
Figure 6a. Crash test used to simulate a backward fall on a snowboard
Figure 6b. Fall from a mountain bike was simulated using a crash test dummy
Novel Testing
Exponent’s biomechanical engineers have extensive experience in designing novel experiments to determine the forces and motions from events with injury claims.