Citation

Yoganandan NA, Pintar FA, Kumaresan S, Haffiner M, Kuppa S. Int. J. Crashworthiness 1997; 2(2): 219-228.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the biomechanical response, due to impact, of the human thoraco-abdominal region. Seven unembalmed human male cadavers were used. All specimens were instrumented with a chest band which recorded the deformation histories, then seated on a platform with the torso rotated from right to left by 15 degrees. Dynamic loading was applied approximately at the level of the eighth rib in the anterior region on the right side using a pendulum impactor at a velocity of 4.3 ds. A uniaxial load cell and a uniaxial accelerometer were attached to the impactor. Each specimen was impacted once on the lower right thorax. Following the test, the specimen was palpated, radiographs were taken, and a detailed autopsy was conducted. Normalised force-deformation responses were computed for each specimen. Peak deformations ranged from 34.2 to 109.8 mm with the corresponding normalised chest compressions ranging from 0.16 to 0.39. Inertially compensated interface impact forces ranged from 1.88 to 2.90 kN. Energies ranged from 36.7 to 126.3 J. Non-displaced rib fractures and other trauma were identified during detailed autopsy; liver lacerations occurred in two specimens. The interface forces, coupled with electronically synchronised deformation histories obtained from the chest band device, are an accurate methodology to quantify the dynamic biomechanical response. These data may assist in the development of anthropomorphic test devices with improved biofidelity which can be used in crash environments.

Language: en