While the use of Human Body Models (HBMs) in the underbody blast (UBB)
environment has increased and shown positive results, the potential of these
models has not been fully explored. Obtaining accurate kinematic and kinetic
response are necessary to better understand the injury mechanisms for military
safety applications. The objective of this study was to validate the Global
Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) M50 lower extremity using a combined
objective rating scheme in vertical and horizontal high-rate axial loading. The
model’s lower extremity biomechanical response was compared to Post Mortem Human
Subjects (PMHS) subjects for vertically and horizontally-applied high rate axial
loading. Two distinct experimental setups were used for model validation,
comprising a total of 33 distinct end points for validation. A combined
Correlation and Analysis (CORA) score that incorporates CORA, time-to-peak (TTP)
and peak magnitude of the experimental signals and ISO TS 18571 was used to
evaluate the model response. For the horizontal impacts, the combined CORA
scores were 0.80, 0.84, and 0.81 for compression, force, and strain
respectively. For the vertical impacts combined CORA scores for the knee Z
force, compression and heel Z displacement ranged from 0.70-0.81, 0.87-0.91, and
0.82-0.99 respectively. The GHBMC lower extremity model showed good agreement
with PMHS experimental data in the horizontal and vertical loading environment
in 33 unique tests. The accuracy is demonstrated by using the ISO TS 18571
standard and a combined CORA score that takes into consideration the peak and
time to peak of the signal. The results of this study show that GHBMC v 6.0 HBM
lower extremity can be used for kinetic and kinematic predictions in the UBB
environment.
