Development of a finite element neck model for head-first compressive impacts: Toward the assessment of motorcycle neck protective equipment

Author(s):  
Mohammad Nasim ◽  
Alessandro Cernicchi ◽  
Ugo Galvanetto

Head-first compressive impacts occur in motorcycle crashes and may result in serious to fatal neck injuries to riders. Equipment to protect the riders’ necks from these injuries are available in the market; however, their effectiveness in reducing injury risk is not clear, either due to the lack of scientific evidences or assessment with any prevalently accepted standard. This paper presents a finite element ligamentous neck model, developed as a computationally efficient tool, for future use in the computational phase of assessment process of neck protective equipment. The 3D cervical spine was generated using the mean statistical dimensions of vertebrae and proposed constitutive models, provided in the scientific literature. Ligaments, for the vertebra-vertebra and Hybrid III head–vertebra ligamentous joints, were introduced with the aid of published anatomical descriptions. For validation, the response of the head-neck system under compressive loadings and the flexion-extension bending stiffness of the neck at the segment level were compared against experimental data. The advanced CORrelation and Analysis (CORA) algorithm was applied on the validation responses to assess biofidelity of the model. The results indicate that the model is functional and meets ISO/TR9790 standard as a “good” biofidelic model.

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek A. Jones ◽  
James P. Gaewsky ◽  
Mona Saffarzadeh ◽  
Jacob B. Putnam ◽  
Ashley A. Weaver ◽  
...  

The use of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) for calculating injury risk of occupants in spaceflight scenarios is crucial for ensuring the safety of crewmembers. Finite element (FE) modeling of ATDs reduces cost and time in the design process. The objective of this study was to validate a Hybrid III ATD FE model using a multidirection test matrix for future spaceflight configurations. Twenty-five Hybrid III physical tests were simulated using a 50th percentile male Hybrid III FE model. The sled acceleration pulses were approximately half-sine shaped, and can be described as a combination of peak acceleration and time to reach peak (rise time). The range of peak accelerations was 10–20 G, and the rise times were 30–110 ms. Test directions were frontal (−GX), rear (GX), vertical (GZ), and lateral (GY). Simulation responses were compared to physical tests using the correlation and analysis (CORA) method. Correlations were very good to excellent and the order of best average response by direction was −GX (0.916±0.054), GZ (0.841±0.117), GX (0.792±0.145), and finally GY (0.775±0.078). Qualitative and quantitative results demonstrated the model replicated the physical ATD well and can be used for future spaceflight configuration modeling and simulation.


Author(s):  
MohammadReza Seyedi ◽  
Sungmoon Jung

Rollover crashes of buses are usually associated with multiple impacts that can result in complex interactions between passengers and a bus superstructure. Although there have been a few field data studies that provide some insights into occupant injuries (e.g. severity and distribution of injuries) during the real-world bus rollover crash, because they had used post-crash data, the occupant kinematics and injury mechanisms were not completely detailed in their results. Based on a literature review, available numerical and experimental studies on a bus rollover safety have mainly focused on structural integrity rather than considering occupant responses in their assessment. In addition, their results about occupant responses in bus rollover crashes show some discrepancies in terms of the estimated injury distribution, severity, and causes. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to provide a more detailed understanding of the occupant kinematics and associated injury risk during the ECE R66 tilt table bus rollover test using validated finite element (FE) models. The ECE R66 tilt table rollover was simulated using a full finite element model of the bus. A 50th percentile male Hybrid III Anthropomorphic test device (ATD) and EuroSID-2re FE models were selected to simulate the occupant’s motion. Each ATD was seated adjacent to the impacted side wall and restrained with a 2-point seatbelt. Simulation parameters included two impact surface friction values and different side window conditions. The results indicated that both ATD estimated the highest injury risk when the partial ejection occurred. They predicted a similar injury risk for the head and thorax. The ES-2re estimated a very low risk of neck injury in all simulations, whereas the Hybrid III estimated the high risk of a neck injury. Finally, recommendations to potentially reduce the injuries were provided and possible future works were suggested.


Author(s):  
Pingping Zhu ◽  
L. Catherine Brinson ◽  
Edwin Peraza-Hernandez ◽  
Darren Hartl ◽  
Aaron Stebner

Many three-dimensional constitutive models have been proposed to enhance the analysis and design of shape memory alloy (SMA) structural components. Phenomenological models are desirable for this purpose since they describe macroscopic responses using internal variables to govern the homogenized material response. Because they are computationally efficient on the scale of millimeters to meters, these models are often the only viable option when assessing the response of full-scale SMA components for engineering applications. Thus, many different 3D SMA constitutive models have been developed. However, for their intended user, the application engineer, a clear and straightforward methodology has not been established for selecting a model to use in a design process. A primary goal of the Consortium for the Advancement of Shape Memory Alloy Research and Technology (CASMART) modeling working group has been establishment of model selection methodology. One critical step in this process is the development of benchmark problems that clearly illustrate the capabilities and efficiencies of models. In this paper, we propose a set of benchmark problems centered on an SMA tube component. These problems have been selected to demonstrate both uniaxial and multiaxial, actuation and superelastic capabilities of 3D SMA models. We then use finite element simulations of these benchmark problems to compare and contrast both the material modeling and implementation of three unique SMA constitutive models.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Rodriguez-Martinez ◽  
navab hosseini

In this paper, we have modi?ed the stress integration scheme proposed by Choi and Yoon (2019), which is based on the numerical approximation of the yield function gradients, to implement in the ?nite element code ABAQUS three elastic isotropic, plastic anisotropic constitutive models with yielding described by Yld2004-18p (Barlat et al., 2005), CPB06ex2 (Plunkett et al., 2008) and Yld2011-27p (Aretz and Barlat, 2013) criteria, respectively. We have developed both VUMAT and UMAT subroutines for the three constitutive models, and have carried out cylindrical cup deep drawing test simulations and calculations of dynamic necking localization under plane strain tension, using explicit and implicit analyses. An original feature of this paper is that these finite element simulations are systematically compared with additional calculations performed using (i) the numerical approximation scheme developed by Choi and Yoon (2019), and (ii) the analytical computation of the first and second order yield functions gradients. This comparison has shown that the numerical approximation of the yield function gradients proposed in this paper facilitates the implementation of the constitutive models, and in the case of the implicit analyses, it leads to a significant decrease of the computational time without impairing the accuracy of the ?finite element results. In addition, we have demonstrated that there is a critical loading rate below which the dynamic implicit analyses are computationally more efficient than the explicit calculations.


Author(s):  
Veenesh Selvaratnam ◽  
Andrew Cattell ◽  
Keith S. Eyres ◽  
Andrew D. Toms ◽  
Jonathan R. P. Phillips ◽  
...  

AbstractPatello-femoral arthroplasty (PFA) is successful in a selected group of patients and yields a good functional outcome. Robotic-assisted knee arthroplasty has been shown to provide better implant positioning and alignment. We aim to report our early outcomes and to compare Mako's (Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopaedic System [RIO]) preoperative implant planning position to our intraoperative PFA implant position. Data for this study was prospectively collected for 23 (two bilateral) patients who underwent robotic-assisted PFA between April 2017 and May 2018. All preoperative implant position planning and postoperative actual implant position were recorded. Presence of trochlear dysplasia and functional outcome scores were also collected. There were 17 (two bilateral) female and 6 male patients with a mean age of 66.5 (range: 41–89) years. The mean follow-up period was 30 (range: 24–37) months. Eighteen knees (72%) had evidence of trochlear dysplasia. The anterior trochlear line was on average, 7.71 (range: 3.3–11.3) degrees, internally rotated to the surgical transepicondylar axis and on average 2.9 (range: 0.2–6.5) degrees internally rotated to the posterior condylar line. The preoperative planning range was 4-degree internal to 4-degree external rotation, 4-degree varus to 6-degree valgus, and 7-degree flexion to 3-degree extension. The average difference between preoperative planning and intraoperative implant position was 0.43 degrees for rotation (r = 0.93), 0.99 degrees for varus/valgus (r = 0.29), 1.26 degrees for flexion/extension (r = 0.83), and 0.34 mm for proudness (r = 0.80). Six patients (24%) had a different size component from their preoperative plan (r = 0.98). The mean preoperative Oxford Knee Score (OKS) was 16 and the mean postoperative OKS was 42. No patient had implant-related revision surgery or any radiological evidence of implant loosening at final follow-up. Our early results of robotic PFA are promising. Preoperative Mako planning correlates closely with intraoperative implant positioning. Longer follow-up is needed to assess long-term patient outcomes and implant survivorship.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 455
Author(s):  
Nico Sollmann ◽  
Nithin Manohar Rayudu ◽  
Long Yu Yeung ◽  
Anjany Sekuboyina ◽  
Egon Burian ◽  
...  

Assessment of osteoporosis-associated fracture risk during clinical routine is based on the evaluation of clinical risk factors and T-scores, as derived from measurements of areal bone mineral density (aBMD). However, these parameters are limited in their ability to identify patients at high fracture risk. Finite element models (FEMs) have shown to improve bone strength prediction beyond aBMD. This study aims to investigate whether FEM measurements at the lumbar spine can predict the biomechanical strength of functional spinal units (FSUs) with incidental osteoporotic vertebral fractures (VFs) along the thoracolumbar spine. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) data of 11 patients (5 females and 6 males, median age: 67 years) who underwent MDCT twice (median interval between baseline and follow-up MDCT: 18 months) and sustained an incidental osteoporotic VF between baseline and follow-up scanning were used. Based on baseline MDCT data, two FSUs consisting of vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs (IVDs) were modeled: one standardly capturing L1-IVD–L2-IVD–L3 (FSU_L1–L3) and one modeling the incidentally fractured vertebral body at the center of the FSU (FSU_F). Furthermore, volumetric BMD (vBMD) derived from MDCT, FEM-based displacement, and FEM-based load of the single vertebrae L1 to L3 were determined. Statistically significant correlations (adjusted for a BMD ratio of fracture/L1–L3 segments) were revealed between the FSU_F and mean load of L1 to L3 (r = 0.814, p = 0.004) and the mean vBMD of L1 to L3 (r = 0.745, p = 0.013), whereas there was no statistically significant association between the FSU_F and FSU_L1–L3 or between FSU_F and the mean displacement of L1 to L3 (p > 0.05). In conclusion, FEM measurements of single vertebrae at the lumbar spine may be able to predict the biomechanical strength of incidentally fractured vertebral segments along the thoracolumbar spine, while FSUs seem to predict only segment-specific fracture risk.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zewen Shi ◽  
Lin Shi ◽  
Xianjun Chen ◽  
Jiangtao Liu ◽  
Haihao Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The superior facet arthroplasty is important for intervertebral foramen microscopy. To our knowledge, there is no study about the postoperative biomechanics of adjacent L4/L5 segments after different methods of S1 superior facet arthroplasty. To evaluate the effect of S1 superior facet arthroplasty on lumbar range of motion and disc stress of adjacent segment (L4/L5) under the intervertebral foraminoplasty. Methods Eight finite element models (FEMs) of lumbosacral vertebrae (L4/S) had been established and validated. The S1 superior facet arthroplasty was simulated with different methods. Then, the models were imported into Nastran software after optimization; 500 N preload was imposed on the L4 superior endplate, and 10 N⋅m was given to simulate flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation. The range of motion (ROM) and intervertebral disc stress of the L4-L5 spine were recorded. Results The ROM and disc stress of L4/L5 increased with the increasing of the proportions of S1 superior facet arthroplasty. Compared with the normal model, the ROM of L4/L5 significantly increased in most directions of motion when S1 superior facet formed greater than 3/5 from the ventral to the dorsal or 2/5 from the apex to the base. The disc stress of L4/L5 significantly increased in most directions of motion when S1 superior facet formed greater than 3/5 from the ventral to the dorsal or 1/5 from the apex to the base. Conclusion In this study, the ROM and disc stress of L4/L5 were affected by the unilateral S1 superior facet arthroplasty. It is suggested that the forming range from the ventral to the dorsal should be less than 3/5 of the S1 upper facet joint. It is not recommended to form from apex to base. Level of evidence Level IV


Lubricants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Carl F. O. Dahlberg ◽  
Jonas Faleskog ◽  
Per-Lennart Larsson

Correlation of sharp indentation problems is examined theoretically and numerically. The analysis focuses on elastic-plastic pressure-sensitive materials and especially the case when the local plastic zone is so large that elastic effects on the mean contact pressure will be small or negligible as is the case for engineering metals and alloys. The results from the theoretical analysis indicate that the effect from pressure-sensitivity and plastic strain-hardening are separable at correlation of hardness values. This is confirmed using finite element methods and closed-form formulas are presented representing a pressure-sensitive counterpart to the Tabor formula at von Mises plasticity. The situation for the relative contact area is more complicated as also discussed.


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