Kinematics and Thoracic Deformation of an Elderly Size Human FE Model in Front Impact Sled Analysis

Abstract

The amount and rates of elderly fatally injured in traffic crashes in Japan are increasing. These tendencies are especially sensitive for thoracoabdominal injuries. In order to investigate this problem, a finite element model of an average size Japanese elderly with age-specific thoracic characteristics was developed. The thoracic response of the model was validated against age-dependent corridors developed from post mortem human subject pendulum impact tests. Full body trajectories and thoracic deformation were also assessed against frontal impact sled tests. The model shows good full body kinematics response as well as sensitivity to age-dependent characteristics.