Citation

Eggers A, Zhu F, Yank KH, King AI. Int. J. Veh. Safety 2005; 1(1,2,3): 118-128.

Affiliation

Bioengineering Center, Wayne State University, 818 W. Hancock, Detroit, MI 48202, USA

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Inderscience Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study is a finite element investigation of neck load during a lateral impact to the head. A previously developed detailed model of the human neck was modified to accomplish this study. The neck model was integrated with a head model to simulate drops on a laterally inclined plane using different coefficients of friction between head and plate. The results appear to confirm the hypothesis that high friction between the head and impact surface increases the risk of injury to the neck for lateral impact. Furthermore, it was predicted that the upper cervical spine was at higher risk for injury than the lower neck, due to a lateral impact. It was also found that in a drop test on a laterally inclined plane the loads borne by the intervertebral discs were lower than those borne by the facets.