It seemed that more information about the behaviour of the ribs during a crash test could be useful, particularly the knowledge of the moment of the rib fracture leading to a better understanding of the behaviour of the thorax according to the loading.

The technique applied consists of the acquisition of data provided by extensometers glued on the medium arc of the rib.

The curves plotted can show some typical profiles related to the events occurring during the test, particularly the time of the rib fracture.

The analysis allows the chronology of the loading of the ribs and the occurrence of the fractures to be determined. Consequently, an evaluation of the evolution of the loading of the thorax related to the time is possible.

The article describes:​

• The technique and the methodology used to instrument the ribs
• The complementary device specially designed in order to acquire data
• The analysis of the curves according to the results of the autopsy
• A proposal of theoretical curves related to the events occurring during the test
• The limits of the technique
• The conclusion