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Development of a Finite Element Model to Study the Effects of Muscle Forces on Knee-Thigh-Hip Injuries in Frontal Crashes
Technical Paper
2008-22-0018
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English
Abstract
A finite element (FE) model with knee-thigh-hip (KTH) and
lower-extremity muscles has been developed to study the potential
effects of muscle tension on KTH injuries due to knee bolster
loadings in frontal crashes. This model was created by remeshing
the MADYMO human lower-extremity FE model to account for regional
differences in cortical bone thickness, trabecular bone, cortical
bone with directionally dependent mechanical properties and Tsai-Wu
failure criteria, and articular cartilage. The model includes 35
Hill-type muscles in each lower extremity with masses based on
muscle volume. The skeletal response of the model was validated by
simulating biomechanical tests without muscle tension, including
cadaver skeletal segment impact tests documented in the literature
as well as recent tests of seated whole cadavers that were impacted
using knee-loading conditions similar to those produced in FMVSS
208 testing.
Simulations of knee-to-knee-bolster impacts conducted with and
without different levels of lower-extremity muscle activation
reported in the literature for braking/bracing suggest that muscle
tension has the potential to decrease the externally applied force
required to cause KTH fracture, and the potential to increase the
likelihood of femoral shaft fracture relative to hip fracture by
increasing bending moments in the femoral shaft. However, more
reliable and complete data on activation levels of muscles in the
lower extremities during vehicle braking and bracing are needed
before this effect of muscle tension can be confirmed and before
the overall effects of muscle tension on KTH injury can be
determined.