Combined Multi-Body Dynamic and FE Models of Human Head and Neck

Abstract

Abstract.A complete three-dimensional multi-body dynamic computational model of the human head and neck has been developed and validated using human volunteer experimental data. The complete head-neck model has been used to simulate 15g frontal and 8.5g rear-end impacts with the resulting motion compared against response corridors derived from sled acceleration tests using human volunteers. This paper reports an original work, a further development of the model that incorporates a finite element analysis of the intervertebral discs subjected to the loading conditions determined by the multi-body dynamic model of the head and neck complex.

Cervical Spine Anthropometric and Finite Element Biomechanical Analysis

“…Dynamic models of the cervical spine often include the entire cervical spine, and the head. Vertebral bodies have been modeled as rigid bodies, with soft tissues such as spinal ligaments represented by linear springs (Esat, 2005;Brolin and Halldin, 2005;Stemper et al, 2006). This modeling approach somewhat limits the load response data that can be derived for specific vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs.…”

“…By verifying a study under known in-vitro conditions investigators can assume the response of the finite element model is valid for a certain range then continue to test different scenarios (Ng et al, 2003). The following summary Goel et al (Goel and Clausen, 1998) The study by Esat et al (Esat, 2005) combines both static and dynamic analysis methods. The investigators aimed to simulate the response of the head and neck system under frontal and rear impact scenarios.…”

“…The investigators take the analysis further by developing a finite element model of the cervical spine and intervertebral discs. The finite element model was used to study the response of the intervertebral discs to the dynamic load cases (Esat, 2005). The study illustrates the flexibility of employing the finite element method in the analysis of the cervical spine.…”

“…The data set of points can then be used to create a model via a computer aided drafting package. This approach can be applied to the development of two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) models (Zhang et al, 2006;Esat, 2005;Haghpanahi, 2006;Panzer and Cronin, 2009). Haghpanahi et al used the data point approach to create a parameterized 2D model of the C3 -C7 vertebral model.…”

Simulated Effects of Head Movement on Contact Pressures Between Headforms and N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators-Part 1: Headform Model and Validation

“…The cervical spine model can be connected to a head model for controlling the head movements. Different kinds of head movements, including flexion, extension, axial rotation, and bending, were simulated by applying external loads to the FE cervical spine model (Van der Horst, 2002; Esat et al ., 2005; Hedenstierna and Halldin, 2008; Esat and Acar, 2009; Hedenstierna et al , 2009). The above existing head models do not include any skin or fatty tissue.…”