Heart response to horizontal impulse

Abstract

Lumped body parameters linear and nonlinear models have been developed and used for the analysis of the response of the heart in a seated human body due to impulsive horizontal inputs at various body segments. The acceleration transfer magnitude and phase due to impulsive inputs at various body segments are reported. Time histories of the heart acceleration transfer were obtained for both linear and nonlinear models. The results indicate that the largest acceleration transfer occurs at 2–3 Hz frequency. Inputs at the upper body segments excite a second peak and in the acceleration transfer at 10–12 Hz. The nonlinear model shows large attenuation at the high frequency range (larger than 10 Hz) and less attenuation at the 1–5 Hz frequency range.