A human body finite element model for an average adult male was developed. The model is based on the integration of finite element models of body regions of the thorax, abdomen, shoulder and head-neck, previously developed at Wayne State University. The model includes details of the human skeleton and major soft tissues in these body regions, including the skull, spinal column, neck muscles, joint ligaments, ribcage, clavicle and shoulder bones and joints, lungs, heart, aorta, vena cava, esophagus, liver, spleen, and kidneys, and various connective arteries and veins, and pelvis.

Extensive validations of the human body model have been made against Post Mortem Human Subjects (PMHS) responses for the frontal and side impacts, as well as belt and surrogate airbag loading under various conditions of fifteen sets of pendulum tests performed and published by various researchers. The force-deflection characteristics of shoulders, thorax, and the abdomen are in good agreement with the experimental data.

The model was further validated against the chest band data of belted PMHS 30mph sled test (NHTSA bio-mechanics database, test #2860). The model predicts the histories of chest deflections and shapes of the fourth and eight rib sections. Robustness study in sled test simulations was made. The model performed well under the impact severities of 15-35 MPH in frontal and side impacts.

Stress analysis was made on the clavicle under lateral pendulum impact, on the abdominal solid organs under rigid bar impacts, and on the chest ribs under the 30mph belted PMHS sled test. Comparisons of the analysis results with autopsy results showed that the model can estimate possible locations of the bone and organ failures, consistent with the experimental observations.