Development of human neck numerical model for crashworthiness assessment
Abstract
Despite the recent progresses in occupant safety, protection of children is not still
optimal. To offer a better understanding of child injury mechanisms, the present study
proposes a dummy finite element model of newborn child neck. The neck model
consists of rigid, geometrically accurate vertebrae held together with intervertibral
disk, facet joints and ligaments modeled as a series of nonlinear springs. Neck injury
that occurred in vehicle crash accident will be simulated using finite element analysis
software, LS-DYNA and compared with other experimental results. In the case of a
frontal impact, in the areas of neck compression, neck extension and neck kinematics,
it is demonstrated that a good correlation is achieved between the response of a FE
dummy in the model and those of ATDs in the physical hardware tests. As a reference
in modeling, the new-born child dummy model a 50th percentile Hybrid III will be
used. The geometry of the human neck will be adjusted and modified according to
typical Malay new-born child.