BUMPER ENERGY ABSORBERS FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Energy absorbers particularly well suited for use in a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian so as to reduce collision energy transmitted to the pedestrian and having a width w, a height h, a front wall a, a top wall c and a bottom wall d such that the height is between 0.8 w and 1.0 w; the thickness of the front wall (t-a) is between 0.06 w and 0.09 w; the thickness of the top wall (t-c) is between 0.03 w and 0.09 w; the thickness of the bottom wall (t-d) is between 0.03 w an 0.09 w; and the energy absorber is made substantially of a thermoplastic material having an elongation at break higher than 20% between -20° C. and +60° C. (measured according ISO 527-1/-2); a yield strength between 30 and 40 MPa (measured according ISO 527-1/-2); modulus of elasticity between 1000-1500 MPa (measured according ISO 527-1/-2); and hardness Shore D between 50 ShD and 80 ShD (measured according ISO 868).