Title: Whiplash injury criteria investigation with a global head-neck torso model

Authors: Nicolas Bourdet, Remy Willinger

Addresses: Institut de Mecanique des Fluides et des Solides, Universite de Strasbourg – CNRS FRE 3240, 2 rue Boussingault, F67 000 Strasbourg, France. ' Institut de Mecanique des Fluides et des Solides, Universite de Strasbourg – CNRS FRE 3240, 2 rue Boussingault, F67 000 Strasbourg, France

Abstract: In this study, a minimum complexity head-neck-thorax model validated in the frequency domain was coupled to a car seat-head rest complex on Madymo software to establish more accurate neck injury criteria and associated tolerance limits. A total of 87 accident cases were then simulated using three seats. Several injury criteria, such as Neck Fx, Neck Fz, T1 acceleration, Neck Injury Criterionmax, Nkm and Neck Displacement Criterion, were calculated and correlated to the risk of AIS1 neck injury. A similar work has been done with the BioRID II model to compare the predictive risk curves obtained on both models. This comparison was expressed in terms of Nagelkerke R² values obtained with these analyses. It appears that the minimum complexity head-neck-thorax model gives a higher correlation than the BioRID II model for all parameters and that the lower neck axial force is shown as the best candidate to correlate with the neck injury.

Keywords: head-neck-thorax modelling; neck injury criteria; real accident reconstruction; whiplash injuries; tolerance limits; neck displacement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2011.040135

International Journal of Vehicle Safety, 2011 Vol.5 No.2, pp.168 - 188

Published online: 15 Apr 2015 *

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