With recent advances obtained with numerical simulation of human body behaviour, it becomes possible to investigate the detailed behaviour of structure involved in trauma situations. Hence, does established injury criterion remain relevant with FE (finite element) modelling? In order to define standard rules for numerical simulation analysis, which methodologies could be proposed to investigate injury assumptions with an existing numerical model? A new general methodology based on a multi-level model analysis from potential tissue failure to structure kinematics was postulated and applied to a lower limb model. Standard impact situations were simulated and these demonstrate the methodology capabilities to predict the existing injury criteria threshold. Additionally, models' capabilities to provide new injury criteria (related to pedestrian impact situation) based on the general methodology were evaluated and discussed. (Author/publisher)
Abstract