Validation of a finite-element-model of the human neck

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Nitsche, Sven¹; Krabbel, Gerald¹; Appel, Hermann¹; Haug, Eberhard²

Validation of a finite-element-model of the human neck

Proceedings of the 1996 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact

Affiliations

¹Institute of Automotive Engineering, Berlin University of Technology, Germany

²Engineering Systems International SA, Rungis, France
Abstract

This paper presents the development and the validation of a FE model of the human cervical spine with the explicite FE code PAM-CRASH™ as a collaboration between the Berlin University of Technology, Germany, and Engineering Systems International, Rungis, France. The model consists of deformable vertebral bones, intervertebral discs, articular cartilages and ligaments with an approximated anatomical structure. The geometry and the material model are described and the results of the simulations are compared with experimental results for frontal flexion, lateral flexion and compression of the human cervical spine in volunteer, cadaver and specimen tests. It is concluded that the presented FE model shows a good agreement with the test results. The simulation results underline the great influence of the elastic behavior of the vertebrae and the fixation boundary condition for the model on the global neck motion. The findings of this study show some possibilities of improving the biofidelity of the FE neck model.

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