Citation

Danelson K, Golman A, Bolte JH, Stitzel JD. J. Biomech. Eng. 2014; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, American Society of Mechanical Engineers)

DOI

10.1115/1.4028816

PMID

25321884

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the response of the Total HUman Model for Safety (THUMS) total body finite element model to experimental Post Mortem Human Subject (PMHS) test results and evaluate possible injuries caused by suit ring elements. Experimental testing evaluated the PMHS response in frontal, rear, side, falling and spinal impacts. The THUMS was seated in a rigid seat that mirrored the sled buck used in the experimental testing. The model was then fitted with experimental combinations of neck, shoulder, humerus and thigh rings with a five-point restraint system. Experimental acceleration data was used as the input for the simulations. The simulation results were analyzed and compared to PMHS measurements to validate the response of the THUMS model in these loading conditions. The metrics selected to compare the THUMS to PMHS tests were the chest acceleration, seat acceleration and belt forces with additional metrics implemented in THUMS to determine injury risk. The chest acceleration between the simulations and the experimental data was closely matched except in the Z-axis (superior/inferior) loading scenarios based on curve analysis. The belt force data of the model better correlated to the experimental results in loading scenarios where the THUMS interacted primarily with the restraint system compared to load cases where the primary interaction was between the seat and the occupant (rear, spinal and lateral impacts). The injury metrics from the simulation output indicated a low chance of injury to the occupant in these loading conditions. In the experimental testing, rib fractures were recorded for the frontal and left lateral impact scenarios. Fractures were not seen in the simulations, due to variations between the simulation and the PMHS initial configuration. The placement of the rings on the THUMS was optimal with symmetric placement about the centerline of the model. The experimental placement of the rings had more experimental variation. Even with this discrepancy, the THUMS can still be considered a valuable predictive tool for occupant injury because it can compare results across many simulations. The THUMS also has the ability to assess a wide variety of other injury information that can be used to compare simulation results.

Language: en