Biofidelity of the SID-IIs and a modified SID-IIs upper extremity:​ biomechanical properties of the human humerus

Kemper, Andrew; Stitzel, Joel; Duma, Stefan; Matsuoka, Fumio; Masuda, Mitsutoshi

Accurate biofidelity for side impact dummies is crucial in order to accurately predict injury of human occupants. One such dummy is the SIDIIs, which represents the 5th percentile human female. A recent area of concern is the biofidelity of the upper extremity of side impact test dummies. Since the upper arm serves as a load path to the thorax, the response characteristics of the upper extremity can influence the thoracic response in side impact test dummies. However, there are currently no biofidelity evaluations with respect to the characteristics of the arm its self. The purpose of the study was to characterize the biomechanical properties of male and female humeri and to assess the biofidelity of the SID-IIs and a modified SID-IIs upper extremity. Results from two types of tests are presented. First, whole bone three-point bending tests were performed on eight isolated humeri from male and female human cadavers at static and dynamic loading rates 0.01 m/s and 3.0 m/s. Second, a series of compression tests were performed at two dynamic rates, 2 m/s and 4m/s, on a total of eight male and female humeri with all soft tissues attached. Then matched compression tests were preformed on the SID-IIs and the modified SIDIIs humerus segment. The impact direction for all tests was from lateral to medial in order to simulate a side impact collision. All test results and biofidelity corridors are presented in the full paper. The test results show that for both the SID-IIs and modified SID-IIs, the force vs. deflection response transitions from a linear response to an exponential response at deflections of approximately 15 mm and 25 mm, respectively. The male and female human humeri exhibited a similar trend but to a lesser extent. However, the force vs. deflection response of the modified SID-IIs upper extremity was more representative to that of the female human humeri then the original SID-IIs upper extremity. For example, the linear stiffness corridor from the 2m/s humerus compression tests was between 79.17 kN/m and 86.36 kN/m. For the same testing speed, the modified SID-IIs had a linear stiffness of 71.78 kN/m, while the SID-IIs had a linear stiffness of 183.9 kN/m. In summary, it is recommended that the modified SID-IIs upper limb should be used in place of the current SID-IIs upper limb in order to improve the biofidelity of the thoracic measurements of the SID-IIs.

Year

Entry

1996

Kirkish SL, Begeman PC, Paravasthu NS. Proposed provisional reference values for the humerus for evaluation of injury potential. In: Proceedings of the 40th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 4-6, 1996; Albuquerque, NM. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:75-84. SAE 962416.

1997

Kallieris D, Rizzetti A, Mattern R, Jost S, Priemer P, Unger M. Response and vulnerability of the upper arm through side air bag deployment. In: Proceedings of the 41st Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 13-14, 1997; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:101-110. SAE 973323.

1999

Duma SM, Schreiber PH, McMaster JD, Crandall JR, Bass CR, Pilkey WD. Dynamic injury tolerances for long bones of the female upper extremity. J Anat. April 1999;194(3):463-471.

2002

Duma SM, Boggess BM, Crandall JR, Mac Mahon CB. Fracture tolerance of the small female elbow joint in compression: the effect of load angle relative to the long axis of the forearm. Stapp Car Crash J. 2002;46:195-210. SAE 2002-22-0010.

2004

Duma SM, Hansen GA, Kennedy EA, Rath AL, McNally C, Kemper AR, Smith EP, Brolison PG, Stitzel JD, Davis MB, Bass CR, Brozoski FT, McEntire BJ, Alem NM, Crowley JS. Upper extremity interaction with a helicopter side airbag: injury criteria for dynamic hyperextension of the female elbow joint. Stapp Car Crash J. 2004;48:155-176. SAE 2004-22-0007.