title: A combined experimental and numerical study of stab-penetration forces.
abstract: The magnitude of force used in a stabbing incident can be difficult to quantify, although the estimate given by forensic pathologists is often seen as 'critical' evidence in medico-legal situations. The main objective of this study is to develop a quantitative measure of the force associated with a knife stabbing biological tissue, using a combined experimental and numerical technique. A series of stab-penetration tests were performed to quantify the force required for a blade to penetrate skin at various speeds and using different 'sharp' instruments. A computational model of blade penetration was developed using ABAQUS/EXPLICIT, a non-linear finite element analysis (FEA) commercial package. This model, which incorporated element deletion along with a suitable failure criterion, is capable of systematically quantifying the effect of the many variables affecting a stab event. This quantitative data could, in time, lead to the development of a predictive model that could help indicate the level of force used in a particular stabbing incident.
authors: School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address: aisling.niannaidh@ucd.ie.
authors: Aisling Ní
authors: AN
authors: Annaidh
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Cassidy
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Curtis
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Destrade
authors: Michael D
authors: MD
authors: Gilchrist
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003020:Clothing; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008954:Models, Biological; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D013552:Swine; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Finite element; Forensic biomechanics; Penetration force; Skin; Stabbing