title: Impact response of restrained PMHS in frontal sled tests: skeletal deformation patterns under seat belt loading.
abstract: This study evaluated the response of restrained post-mortem human subjects (PMHS) in 40 km/h frontal sled tests. Eight male PMHS were restrained on a rigid planar seat by a custom 3-point shoulder and lap belt. A video motion tracking system measured three-dimensional trajectories of multiple skeletal sites on the torso allowing quantification of ribcage deformation. Anterior and superior displacement of the lower ribcage may have contributed to sternal fractures occurring early in the event, at displacement levels below those typically considered injurious, suggesting that fracture risk is not fully described by traditional definitions of chest deformation. The methodology presented here produced novel kinematic data that will be useful in developing biofidelic human models. Additional analysis of the data produced by the reported tests as well as additional tests with a variety of loading conditions are required to fully characterize torso response including ribcage fracture tolerance.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia Center for Applied Biomechanics, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA. gregshaw@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Purtsezov
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lessley
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crandall
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Herve
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guillemot
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ridella
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Takhounts
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009068:Movement; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013909:Thorax / Q000503:physiopathology*