A study of responses and tolerances of the neck

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Gadd, C. W.¹; Culver, C. C.¹; Nahum, A. M.²

A study of responses and tolerances of the neck

Proceedings of the 15th Stapp Car Crash Conference

Affiliations

¹Research Laboratories, General Motors Corp.

²University Hospital, University of California, San Diego
Abstract

The principal objectives of this study were first to obtain experimental curves of angulation versus moment of resistance of the human neck in hyperextension and lateral flexion, and second to determine angular limits short of significant injury observable in the unembalmed subjects employed in the study. The first of the tests were of the “static” type with load applied over a period of approximately 1s.

To determine the applicability of the data to dynamic conditions, tests were also made of the dissected neck at angulation velocities comparable with those of typical accidental injury. Overall resisting moment and injury threshold were similar under the dynamic loading, but somewhat greater moment of resistance was noted during the (earlier) portion of the loading cycle when angular velocity was greatest.

It is believed the data obtained together with muscular restraint data of other investigators who have used volunteers should be of value in the selection of neck characteristics for anthropometric test devices.

Tolerances of the unembalmed laryngeal cartilages to direct frontal impact in situ were also obtained.
Links

DOI: 10.4271/710856

SAE: 710856

Cited Works (4)

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Cited By (22)

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2015	Nightingale RW, Myers BS, Yoganandan N. Neck injury biomechanics. In: Yoganandan N, Nahum AM, Melvin JW, eds. Accidental Injury: Biomechanics and Prevention. 3rd ed. New York: Springer; 2015:259-308.
1987	Patrick LM. Neck injury incidence, mechanisms and protection. In: 31st Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 28-30, 1987; New Orleans, LA.409-431.
2002	Meijer R, Philippens M, van Hoof J. Side impact neck injury criteria and tolerances in aerospace safety. In: Proceedings of the 30th International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research. November 2002; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.31-45.
1975	Grattan E, Clegg NG, Wall JG. Intracranial or neck injury in belted car occupants. In: Proceedings of the 1975 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 9-11, 1975; Birmingham, UK.114-120.
2001	Ono K, Kaneoka K, Sun EA, Takhounts EG, Eppinger RH. Biomechanical response of human cervical spine to direct loading of the head. In: Proceedings of the 2001 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. October 10-12, 2001; Isle of Man, UK.
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2013	Van Toen CY. Biomechanics of Cervical Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Under Combined Axial Compression and Lateral Bending Loading [PhD thesis]. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia; December 2013.
2022	Pastula CC. Assessment of Occupant Response in Frontal Bus Crash Scenarios Using Human Body Models to Improve Public Transportation Safety [Master's thesis]. University of Waterloo; 2022.
2003	Miller HJ III. Verification of the Child Crash Test Dummy Neck Response Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Physiologic Muscle Stress [PhD thesis]. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University; 2003.