Development and validation of a finite element model of the human thoracic for rib fractures prediction in automobile collisions

Abstract

Thoracic trauma is a frequent occurrence in automotive collisions. A finite element human thorax model was developed for predicting thoracic Rib fractures and studying the injury mechanisms of thorax for automotive impact accidents. CT image and MRI image of the human skeleton and internal organs were used to construct the three-dimensional finite element representation of the rib cage and internal organs. The model was created in the finite element code LS-DYNA. The mechanical properties of the biological tissues in this model were based on test data found in the literature. Several experimental studies have been performed to determine the material properties and force-deformation behaviors of the rib tissues under three-point bending or anterior-posterior loading, the full model was validated against post-mortem human subjects (PMHS)impact data responses for both frontal and lateral impact. Good correlation between the model and the cadaver responses were achieved for the force and deflection time-histories these models provide comparative tools for determining the thoracic response to automotive impact injury and can be used to evaluate Rib fractures and determined thoracic injury mechanism and assist with injury prevention in car crash safety research. © Springer-Verlag 2013.