Rib fracture prediction using finite element modeling : a sensitivity analysis of the effects of failure strain selection.

Finite element models of the thorax are used to design restraint systems by predicting rib fractures. This study presents a sensitivity analysis of the effect of ultimate strain criteria on the resulting number of rib fractures in a finite element model of the thorax. Plastic failure strain values from 0.6% to 1.8% were used, with impacts from a 23.4 kg blunt impactor using frontal (4.9 m/s) and lateral (5.16 m/s) loading. For both impacts, fractures generally decrease monotonically with increasing failure strain when material properties vary by location, while uniform material properties cause rib fracture numbers to oscillate. For the covering abstract see ITRD E141807.