Load Transfer and Deformation Characteristics of the Pelvis in Non-Destructive Side Impact Testing.

Although finite element models of the human body are becoming an integraltool in the reduction of automobile related injuries, these models must be locally and globally validated to be considered accurate. Therefore, thepurpose of this study was to quantify the load transfer and deformation characteristics of the pelvis in side impact loading. A total of ten non-destructive side impact tests were performed on two human male cadavers. Three impact areas and two impacting surfaces were evaluated using a 16 kg pneumatic impactor at approximately 3 m/s: rigid-impact to the ilium, rigid-impact to the greater trochanter, rigid-impact to the ilium and greater trochanter, and foam-impact to the ilum and greater trochanter. Additional rigid-impacts to the ilum and greater trochanter were performed on one cadaver at 4 m/s and 5 m/s to evaluate the effect of loading rate. Load transfer through the pelvis was quantified by implanting custom in situ pelvic load cells in the ilio-sacral joint and pubic symphysis joint. In addition,strain gauges were applied to the iliac wing, superior pubic ramus, ischium, and femur. The results showed that for all test conditions, except therigid-impact to the iliac crest, a larger percentage of impactor force was transferred through the pubic symphysis joint than the iliosacral joint.The strain gauge data showed that for all test conditions except one, ilium only impact, the superior pubic ramus and ischium were placed in compression. Conversely, the primary loading mode for the ilium 1st principle strain was tension for all test conditions. Impact speed was not found to have a considerable effect on the distribution of load through the pelvis. It is anticipated that this research will further the understanding of the biomechanical response of the human pelvis in side impact loading, and aidin the development and validation of computational models. The full text of this paper may be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv21/09-0508.pdf For the covering abstract see ITRD E145407.