Dynamic Modeling of Occupant Response to Frontal/Rear/Lateral Vehicular Collisions

Cervical injury is one of the primary concerns in vehicle collisions. In this work, two multibody dynamics models of the cervical spine of a 50th percentile male were developed using biofidelic variable intervertebral rotational stiffnesses. Furthermore, finite element simulations of a seated and restrained occupant in frontal, rear, and lateral collisions between two passenger cars were performed to determine the kinematics and kinetics response of the occupant. The resultant accelerations of the T1 vertebra were applied to the multibody dynamics models to obtain their true kinematic response. The multibody dynamics models and finite element models were used to estimate the risks of cervical injuries. Ligament injury was most likely at the interspinous ligament in frontal collision, the anterior longitudinal ligament in rear collision, and the near-side capsular ligament in lateral collision. The highest vertebral fracture risks were found in rear and lateral injuries, in the mid- and lower cervical spine.M.A.S.2019-11-15 00:00:0