Improvement and evaluation of the 50th percentile female prototype rear impact dummy, BioRID P50F

Whiplash injuries due to rear impact vehicle collisions remain a significant global concern, with females facing a disproportionately higher risk of permanent medical impairment compared to males. Current rear impact testing predominantly uses 50th percentile male dummies, such as the BioRID II, which are not representative of the female population. A 50th percentile male dummy roughly corresponds to a 90th-95th percentile female in stature and mass, which appear to render whiplash protection systems less effective for women. In preparation for future investigation of car models with known differences in whiplash injury risk between female and male occupants, the development of an upgraded average size female BioRID prototype, denoted P50F_V2, was initiated to further improve the first female BioRID prototype. The aim was to better represent female properties by reducing upper torso stiffness and improving spinal curvature, as well as simplifying the H-point position measurement and refining the external contours of the head, hands and feet. The dynamic response of the upgraded prototype was evaluated with regard to rear impact sled tests, comprising female volunteers close to the 50th percentile female size. Overall, the dynamic response of the upgraded prototype showed improvements, in particular, the T1 rearward angular displacement better matched the female volunteer response corridors. Although the biofidelity of the upgraded prototype leaves room for further improvement, it is deemed sufficient to provide an understanding of the differences in dynamic response between female and male occupants in rear impacts. Overall, the upgraded BioRID P50F, used as a complement to the BioRID II, is a significant step towards sex-inclusive crash testing.