The objective of the present study was to measure dynamic chest deformations and compute chest velocity and viscous criterion during real world frontal impacts conducted on a horizontal sled. Four unembalmed human cadavers were restrained using a three-point belt restraint in the driver seat of a sled buck. Two chest bands (each with a 24 gauge capability) were placed on the thorax to record the temporal deformation patterns during impact. All tests were conducted at a velocity of approximately 50 kph. Biomechanical data were gathered digitally at a sampling rate of 12,500 Hz. Multiple rib fractures were identified in all specimens at autopsy. Analysis of approximately 800 temporal deformation contours of the thorax demonstrated regional differences. The overall mean maximum normalized chest deflections, maximum chest compression velocities, and peak viscous response variables ranged from 0.15 to 0.51, 1.79 to 4.87 m/s, and 0.15 to 1.95 m/s, respectively. These findings clearly illustrate the potential use of the chest band output to correlate injury with biomechanical variables and establish thoracic impact tolerance.

Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Topics:
Deformation, Biomechanics, Wounds, Belts, Compression, Deflection, Fracture (Materials), Fracture (Process), Gages
1.
Abbreviated Injury Scale, 1990 version, American Association of Automotive Medicine, Chicago, IL.
2.
Cavanaugh
J. M.
, and
King
A. I.
, “
Control of Transmission of HIV and Other Bloodborne Pathogens in Biomechanical Cadaveric Testing
,”
Journal of Orthopaedic Research
, Vol.
8
(
2
),
1990
, pp.
159
–
166
.
3.
CDC
: Update, “
Universal Precautions for Prevention of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitus B Virus, and Other Bloodborne Pathogens in Health-Care Settings
,”
MMWR
, Vol.
37
,
1988
, pp.
377
–
388
.
4.
Eppinger, R. H., “Prediction of Thoracic Injury Using Measurable Experimental Parameters,” Proc. 6th International Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles, NHTSA, Washington, DC, 1976, pp. 770–780.
5.
Eppinger, R. H., “On the Development of a Deformation Measurement System and Its Application Toward Developing Mechanically Based Indices,” Proc. 33rd Stapp. Car Crash Conf., Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, PA, 1989, pp. 21–28.
6.
Hagedorn, A. V., Eppinger, R. H., Morgan, R. M., Pritz, H. B., and Khaewpong, N., “Application of a Deformation Measurement System to Mechanical Systems,” Intl. Research Council on Biokinetics of Impact, Berlin, Germany, Sept. 1991, pp. 171–183.
7.
Kroell, C. K., Schneider, D. C., and Nahum, A. M., “Impact Tolerance and Response of the Human Thorax,” Proc, 15th Stapp. Car Crash Conf., Society of Automotive Engineers, New York, NY, 1971, pp. 84–134.
8.
Kroell, C. K., Schneider, D. C., and Nahum, A. M., “Impact Tolerance and Response of the Human Thorax II,” Proc. 18th Stapp. Car Crash Conf., Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, PA, 1974, pp. 383–457.
9.
Lau, I. V., and Viano, D. C., “The Viscous Criterion—Bases and Applications of an Injury Severity Index for Soft Tissues,” Proc. 30th Stapp. Car Crash Conf., Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendele, PA, 1986, pp. 123–142.
10.
Neathery, R. F., Kroell, C. K., and Mertz, H. J., “Prediction of Thoracic Injury From Dummy Responses,” Proc. 19th Stapp. Car Crash Conf., Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, PA, 1975, pp. 295–316.
11.
Shaibani, S. J., and Khaewpong, N., “Identification of Chest Injuries From Changes in Transverse Sections of the Thorax During Blunt Impact,” Final Report, U.S.D.O.T., Feb. 1990, 89 pp.
12.
Viano
D. C.
, and
Lau
I. V.
, “
A Viscous Tolerance Criterion for Soft Tissue Injury Assessment
,”
J. Biomechanics
, Vol.
21
(
5
),
1988
, pp.
387
–
399
.
13.
Yoganandan, N., Skrade, D., Pintar, F. A., Reinartz, J., and Sances, A. Jr., “Thoracic Deformation Contours in a Frontal Impact,” Proc. 35th Stapp. Car Crash Conf, Society of Automotive Engineers, San Diego, CA, Nov. 18–20, 1991, pp. 47–63.
14.
Yoganandan, N., Pintar, F. A., Skrade, D., Chmiel Wayne, Reinartz, J., and Sances, A., Jr., “Thoracic Biomechanics with Air Bag Restraint,” Proc. 38th Stapp. Car Crash Conf., Society of Automotive Engineers, San Antonio, TX, Nov. 7–10, 1993, pp. 133–144.
This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright © 1995
 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.