Abstract
Neck injury by rear-end collision occurs frequently in automobile accidents, yet its pathomechanical process has not been investigated. For the purpose of developing a better seat and head restraint to reduce whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions, we performed impact analyses using finite element models of the human head and neck, and a new neck model in rear-end collisions. A pseudo 3D FEM model using a rear-end collision of 5.7 km/h was prepared. The FEM results showed a higher tensile stress localized in anterior longitudinal ligaments during impact. Compressire stresses localized in soft tissues, reached its maximum value at 140 ms after collision. We also compared the results displacements of head relative to chest with and without headrestraint and head angles on sled test of the new neck model, the dummy and volunteer. It is clear that the new neck model in rear-end collision behaves closer to that of human neck than the conventional dummy neck.
