That's why scientists from Wake Forest School of Medicine carried out an extensive series of computer simulations on the two most popular types of crash-test dummies (ATDs). The team also compared the results on the ATDs to a Human Body Model (HBM). Thanks to the power and user-friendliness of Pittsburgh Super Computing Center's Bridges platform, they were able to carry out extensive simulations of each dummy experiencing impacts from different directions in seats facing various directions. They confirmed that the ATDs and the HBM produced very similar head-injury metrics in impacts. The simulated results increase confidence that spacecraft manufacturers can design seats and restraints that will be safe in multiple types of impact, with a limited number of tests with physical ATDs. The researchers reported their results in the January 2020 issue of Traffic Injury Prevention.

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