Biomechanical guidelines for the development of an anthropometric dummy knee have been lacking. Quasi-static tests were performed on adult male volunteers and embalmed cadavers to define the force-penetration characteristics of the knee when loaded by a rigid, crushable foam of known crush properties.

The test subject was seated erect with the thigh horizontal and lower leg unrestrained. Axial thigh (femur) force and knee penetration were recorded as a block of foam was pressed against the knee. The test was conducted incrementally with increasing peak load, and a new foam block was used for each increment. This enabled evaluation of the foam indent volume as a function of peak load.

Pertinent anthropometric data are presented for each subject, and normal distribution theory is used to develop percentile scaling rules for the knee response. Loading corridors for biomechanically sound 50th percentile performance are suggested.