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Draft:Human Body Models

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Human body models (HBMs) are computational representations of human anatomy and biomechanics created to predict bodily responses to mechanical loading.[1] They are widely used in automotive crash-safety engineering, sports-impact research, military blast studies, medical-device design and basic injury biomechanics.[1] Unlike anthropomorphic test devices (physical crash-test dummies), HBMs can estimate tissue-level stresses, strains and injury metrics for occupants of any size, sex, age or posture.[2]

History

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The first whole-body finite-element (FE) HBMs for in-crash simulation appeared in the mid-1990s. The EU HUMOS programme (1997–2001) produced one of the earliest refined occupant models.[3]

Toyota commercialised the Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) Version 1 in 2000; later versions added organs, musculature and posture control. THUMS became freely downloadable in 2021 and reached Version 7 in 2023.[4][5]

In 2006 several automakers founded the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) to develop high-fidelity FE HBMs collaboratively.[6]

The first LGPL-licensed open-source HBM family, VIVA+, was released in 2022 with average-female and average-male variants.[7]

Modelling approaches

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Finite-element (FE)

Detailed 3-D meshes of bones, organs and soft tissues; suited to high-rate impact and local-injury prediction (THUMS, GHBMC, VIVA+).

Multi-body (MB)

Linked rigid bodies and viscoelastic joints; fast runtimes for pre-crash manoeuvres and ergonomics (e.g., MADYMO, EMMA).

Major model families

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Model family Steward First release Licence / availability
Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) Toyota Motor Corporation 2000 Free registration (proprietary), Version 7 free download since 2021[5]
Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) International OEM consortium 2006 Commercial & academic licences via Elemance LLC[6]
VIVA+ Open research consortium (Chalmers University et al.) 2022 Open source, LGPL-3.0[7]
HUMOS, PIPER, SAFER Various EU projects 1998–2018 Mixed open / commercial

Applications

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  • Automotive – crashworthiness, autonomous-drive seating, e-scooter riders.[1]
  • Sports – helmet impacts, skiing and American-football trauma studies.[8]
  • Military – under-body blast and body-armour optimisation.[9]
  • Medical devices – spinal implants, CPR compressors, orthopaedic plates.[1]
  • Population studies – paediatric, pregnant and age-specific occupants.[10]

Verification and validation

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HBMs are validated hierarchically—materials, components, body regions and full-body sled tests—using cadaver and volunteer data. International standards (e.g., ISO/TC22/SC36) outline recommended verification and documentation protocols.[2]

Limitations

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  • High computational cost (hours to days for full-scale FE crashes).[1]
  • Uncertainty in biological material properties and injury criteria.[1]
  • Limited experimental data for vulnerable groups (elderly, children, obese).[1]
  • Mesh-quality challenges when models are repositioned to atypical postures.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Smith, J. K.; Wang, L.; González, C. (2024). "A Comprehensive Review of Human Body Models in Different Crash Scenarios". International Journal of Crashworthiness. 29 (2): 123–145. doi:10.1080/13588265.2024.2352242.
  2. ^ a b Fahse, N. (2023). "Dynamic Human Body Models in Vehicle Safety: An Overview". GAMM-Mitteilungen. 46 (2). doi:10.1002/gamm.202300007.
  3. ^ Robin, S. (2001). "HUMOS: Human Model for Safety – A Joint Effort Towards the Development of Refined Car Occupant Models" (PDF). 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Toyota Offers Free Access to THUMS Virtual Human Body Model". Toyota Global Newsroom. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Toyota's Total Human Model for Safety Version 7 released". Toyota Europe. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  6. ^ a b "About the Global Human Body Models Consortium". Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  7. ^ a b "VIVA+ Human Body Models documentation". Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  8. ^ Darling, T. (2016). "Finite Element Modelling of Human Brain Response to Football Helmet Impacts". Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. 19 (13): 1432–1442. doi:10.1080/10255842.2016.1149574. PMID 26867124.
  9. ^ Sousa, E. M. (2021). Toward a Unified Multiscale Computational Model of the Human Body's Immediate Responses to Blast-Related Trauma (Report). RAND Corporation. doi:10.7249/RRA500-1. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  10. ^ Corrales, M. A.; Bolte, J. H.; Pipkorn, B.; Markusic, C.; Cronin, D. S. (2024). "Explaining and Predicting the Increased Thorax Injury in Aged Females Using Age-Specific Human Body Models". Frontiers in Public Health. 12: 1336518. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1336518. PMC 10964717. PMID 38532975.

Works cited

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