A two-step procedure for coupling development and usage of a pair of human neck models

Abstract

Both finite element models and multi-body models of human head-neck complex had been widely used in neck injuries analysis, as the former could be used to generate detailed stress strain information and the later could generate dynamic responses with high efficiency. Sometimes, detailed stress and strain information were hoped to be obtained more efficiently, but current methods were not effective enough when they were used to analyze responses of human head neck complex to long duration undulate accelerations. In this paper, a two-step procedure for ‘parallel’ development and ‘sequential’ usage of a pair of human head neck models was discussed. The pair of models contained a finite element model and a multi-body model, which were developed based on the coupling ‘parallel’ procedure using the same bio-realistic geometry. After being validated using available data, the pair of human neck models were applied to analyze biomechanical responses of pilot’s neck during arrested landing operation according to the ‘sequential’ procedure, because typical sustained undulate accelerations usually appeared during such processes. The results, including both kinematic and detailed biomechanical responses of human head-neck complex, were obtained with preferable efficiency. This research provided an effective way for biomechanical analysis of human head neck responses to sustained undulate accelerations.

Keywords:

• human neck models; finite element model; multi-body model; coupling procedure; long duration undulate acceleration

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, Nos. 11120101001, 11202017, 11421202), National Science & Technology Pillar Program of China (2014BAI11B02, 2014BAI11B03), and the 111 Project (B13003).