Clearer understanding of the biomechanics of the pubic symphysis in lateral pelvic impact tests may serve to elucidate the mechanisms of injury in automotive side impacts. While numerous experimental and computational studies have been conducted on the human pelvis, stresses and deformations of the symphysis were never measured, and the role of the boundary conditions supporting the pelvis was not emphasized. The objective of the present study was to develop a biofidelic FE model to investigate the deformations and stresses experienced by the pubic ligaments and interpubic disc under side impact conditions simulating both drop tower experiments and automotive side impacts.
Vehicle side impacts contribute to approximately 30% of crash fatalities annually, causing an estimated 10,000 deaths each year [1]. Additionally, 32% of all serious crash injuries occur in side impacts, with two-thirds in nearside impacts. Of those injured in nearside impacts, 52% were reported as sustaining thoracic injuries, more than any other anatomical region [2].
Preliminary effectiveness assessment of an airbag-based device for riders’ leg protection in side impacts