Abstract:
While significant advancements have been made in the development of finite element model (FEM) adult neck models to biomechanically understand injury mechanisms in automotive crash scenarios, the focus on child neck models, especially for very young children, has been comparatively limited. This gap is critical given that child neck injury is a significant concern in pediatric passenger safety, often leading to severe head injuries during frontal crashes. This research therefore aimed to develop a one-year-old child neck numerical dummy model using the LS-DYNA finite element software, and to rigorously validate this biomechanical model against experimental data, with the ultimate goal of creating a reliable computational tool to improve pediatric safety in automotive impact situations. The development process involved a detailed construction of the numerical neck model, simulating its response under controlled conditions. The biomechanical validation of this newly developed numerical dummy neck model was comprehensively performed using two distinct experimental procedures: a pendulum test and specific neck flexion and extension tests. These experimental data provide critical kinematic and kinetic responses against which the computational model's biofidelity could be assessed. The rigorous validation process was crucial to ensure that the numerical dummy neck model is sufficiently biofidelic, meaning it can accurately mimic the biomechanical response characteristics of a physical dummy during simulated impacts. This includes evaluating the model's ability to replicate force-deflection curves, accelerations, and angular displacements observed in physical tests. A highly biofidelic numerical model is essential for accurately predicting neck injury risk and designing more effective child restraint systems. This study successfully developed and validated a one-year-old child neck numerical model, significantly contributing to the field of pediatric biomechanics and paving the way for more precise virtual testing in child occupant safety system development.
