This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
A Study of Knee Joint Kinematics and Mechanics using a Human FE Model
Technical Paper
2005-22-0006
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Posterior translation of the tibia with respect to the femur can stretch the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Fifteen millimeters of relative displacement between the femur and tibia is known as the Injury Assessment Reference Value (IARV) for the PCL injury. Since the anterior protuberance of the tibial plateau can be the first site of contact when the knee is flexed, the knee bolster is generally designed with an inclined surface so as not to directly load the projection in frontal crashes. It should be noted, however, that the initial flexion angle of the occupant knee can vary among individuals and the knee flexion angle can change due to the occupant motion. The behavior of the tibial protuberance related to the knee flexion angle has not been described yet. The instantaneous angle of the knee joint at the timing of restraining the knee should be known to manage the geometry and functions of knee restraint devices. The purposes of this study are first to understand the kinematics of the knee joint during flexion, and second to characterize the mechanics of the knee joint under anterior-posterior loading. A finite element model of the knee joint, extracted from the Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS), was used to analyze the mechanism. The model was validated against kinematics and mechanical responses of the human knee joint. By tracking the relative positions and angles between the patella and the tibia in a knee flexing simulation, the magnitude of the tibial anterior protuberance was described as a function of the knee joint angle. The model revealed that the mechanics of the knee joint was characterized as a combination of stiffness of the patella-femur structure and the PCL It was also found that the magnitude of the tibial anterior protuberance determined the amount of initial stretch of the PCL in anterior-posterior loading. Based on the knee joint kinematics and mechanics, an interference boundary was proposed for different knee flexion angles, so as not to directly load the anterior protuberance of the tibial plateau in restraining of the knee. A frontal crash simulation was performed using a partial vehicle model with the THUMS seated. The performance and effects of the knee airbag, as one of the candidates for knee restraint devices, were evaluated through the simulation.
Recommended Content
Authors
Citation
Kitagawa, Y., Hasegawa, J., Yasuki, T., Iwamoto, M. et al., "A Study of Knee Joint Kinematics and Mechanics using a Human FE Model," SAE Technical Paper 2005-22-0006, 2005, https://doi.org/10.4271/2005-22-0006.Also In
References
- Abe, H. Sato, M 1996 Data Book on Mechanical Properties of Living Cells, Tissues, and Organs Springer-Verlag Tokyo
- Atkinson, P. Atkinson, T. Haut, R. Eusebi, C. Maripudi, V. Hill, T. Sambatur, K 1998 Development of Injury Criteria for Human Surrogates to Address Current Trend in Knee-to-Instrument Panel Injuries Proc. 42 nd Stapp Car Crash Conference 1 19
- Balasubramanian, S. Beillas, P. Belwadi, A. Hardy, W. Yang, K. King, A. Masuda, M. 2004 Below Knee Impact Responses using Cadaveric Specimens Stapp Car Crash Journal 44 1 19
- Culver, C. Viano, C 1979 Factors Influencing Knee Restraint SAE 790322 .
- Kuppa, S 2001 An Overview of Knee-Thigh-Hip Injuries in Frontal Crashes in the United States Proc. 18 th Conference on Enhanced Vehicle for Safety
- Meyer, E. Haut, R. 2003 The Effect of Impact Agnle on Knee Tolerance to Rigid Impacts Stapp Car Crash Journal 47 1 19
- Viano, D. Culver, C. Haut, R. Melvin, J. Bender, M. Culver, R. Levine, R 1978 Bolster Impacts to the Knee and Tibia of Human Cadavers and an Anthropomorphic Dummy Proc. 22 nd Stapp Car Crash Conference 403 428
- Yamada, H 1970 Strength of Biological Materials Williams & Wilkins Company