Lauren Wood Zaseck, Anne C. Bonifas, Carl S. Miller, Nichole Ritchie Orton, and Matthew P. Reed — University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute
Constantine K. Demetropoulos, Kyle A. Ott, Christopher J. Dooley, Nathanael P. Kuo, Leah M. Strohsnitter, Joseph R. Andrist, Mary E. Luongo, David G. Drewry III, and Andrew C. Merkle — The John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Jonathan D. Rupp — Emory University
Abstract
Limited data exist on the injury tolerance and biomechanical response of humans to high-rate, under-body blast (UBB) loading conditions that are commonly seen in current military operations, and there are no data examining the influence of occupant posture on response. Additionally, no anthropomorphic test device (ATD) currently exists that can properly assess the response of humans to high-rate UBB loading. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine the response of post-mortem human surrogates (PMHS) in various seated postures to high-rate, vertical loading representative of those conditions seen in theater. In total, six PMHS tests were conducted using loading pulses applied directly to the pelvis and feet of the PMHS: three in an acute posture (foot, knee, and pelvis angles of 75°, 75°, and 36°, respectively), and three in an obtuse posture (15° reclined torso, and foot, knee, and pelvis angles of 105°, 105°, and 49.5°, respectively). Tests were conducted with a seat velocity pulse that peaked at ~4 m/s with a 30-40 ms time to peak velocity (TTP) and a floor velocity that peaked at 6.9-8.0 m/s (2-2.75 ms TTP). Posture condition had no influence on skeletal injuries sustained, but did result in altered leg kinematics, with leg entrapment under the seat occurring in the acute posture, and significant forward leg rotations occurring in the obtuse posture. These data will be used to validate a prototype ATD meant for use in high-rate UBB loading scenarios.
Zaseck LW, Bonifas AC, Miller CS, Orton NR, Reed MP, Demetropoulos CK, Ott KA, Dooley CJ, Kuo NP, Strohsnitter LM, Andrist JR, Luongo ME, Drewry II DG, Merkle AC, Rupp JD. Kinematic and Biomechanical Response of Post-Mortem Human Subjects Under Various Pre-Impact Postures to High-Rate Vertical Loading Conditions. Stapp Car Crash J. 2019 Nov;63:235-266. doi: 10.4271/2019-22-0010.
Pages: 32
Event: 63rd Stapp Car Crash Conference