Numerical human model to predict side impact thoracic trauma

Forbes, P. A.; Cronin, D. S.; Deng, Y. C.; Boismenu, M.

Affiliations

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1

²General Motors Corporation, 6440 E.12 Mile Road, Warren, MI, USA, 48090-9000

³General Motors of Canada Limited, 1908 Colonel Sam Drive, Oshawa, ON, Canada, L1H 8P7

Abstract and keywords

A previously developed thoracic numerical model was further enhanced for use in predicting thoracic trauma in auto crash simulations. The model consists of a detailed thoracic cage and organs developed from digital images. The first iteration of the detailed thoracic model incorporated three-dimensional finite element representations of the spine, ribs, heart, lungs and major blood vessels. The second iteration of the model was expanded to include rib cage surface muscles and upper limbs, with improvements to several material models. This detailed thoracic model correlated well with existing front and side pendulum impact experiment data. As this model will be integrated with numerical vehicle models it was necessary to develop a simplified head, pelvis, abdomen and legs.

The current version of the model was developed and evaluated in a stepwise fashion using existing experimental data including frontal and side thoracic pendulum impact tests. Side abdominal and pelvic pendulum impact tests were used to design simplified representations of the associated components to complete the human body model.

Complex loading via side sled impact tests was then investigated, where the body is loaded unbelted using a representative NHTSA-type and WSU-type sled test system. The predicted model response shows good agreement with the experimental data.

Keywords: numerical thoracic model; Finite Element Method (FEM); side impact; trauma

Links

DOI: 10.1007/1-4020-3796-1_45

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Cited By (2)

Year	Entry
2016	Gierczycka D, Malcolm S, Cronin DS. Occupant-restraint-vehicle interaction in side impact evaluated using a human body model. In: Proceedings of the 12th Ohio State University Injury Biomechanics Symposium. June 5-7, 2016; Columbus, OH.
2018	Gierczycka D. Investigation of Thorax Response and Potential for Injury in Side Impacts Using Integrated Detailed Human and Vehicle Finite-Element Models [PhD thesis]. University of Waterloo; 2018.