Exploring the Link Between E-scooter Crash Mechanism and Injury Outcome Using Finite Element Analysis

The recent emergence of electric scooter (e-scooter) ride share companies has greatly increased the use of e-scooters in cities around the world. In this thesis, firstly, e-scooter injuries reported in the current literature as well as an overview of current e-scooter company policies, state laws, and local laws are reviewed. The most injured regions of the body were the head and extremities. These injuries are generally minor to moderate in severity and commonly include fractures and lacerations. A primary cause of e-scooter accidents is front wheel collisions with a vertical surface such as a curb or object, generically referred to as a "stopper." Therefore, various e-scooter-stopper crashes were simulated numerically across different impact speeds, approach angles, and stopper heights to characterize their influence on rider injury risk during falls. A finite element (FE) model of a standing Hybrid III anthropomorphic test device was used as the rider model after being calibrated against certification test data. The angle of approach was found to have the greatest effect on injury risk to the rider, and it was shown to be positively correlated with injury risk. Smaller approach angles were shown to cause the rider to land on their side, while larger approach angles caused the rider to land on their head and chest. Additionally, arm bracing was shown to reduce the risk of serious injury in two thirds of the impact scenarios. The majority of e-scooter rider fatalities (about 80%) are recorded in collisions between a car and an e-scooter. Therefore, crashes between an e-scooter and a sedan (FCR) and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) were simulated using finite element models. The vehicles impacted the e-scooter at a speed of 30 km/hr in a perpendicular collision and at 15 degrees towards the vehicle, to simulate a rider being struck by a turning vehicle. The risks of serious injury to the rider were low for the head, brain, and neck, but femur/tibia fractures were observed in all simulations. The primary cause of head and brain injuries was found to be the head-ground impact if such an impact occurred.