[Development and validation of a human neck FE model for dynamic response during impact condition]

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Computational Modeling

Background:

• Accurate biomechanical models of the human neck are crucial for understanding injury mechanisms.
• Previous models may not fully represent the specific anatomy of the Chinese population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a validated three-dimensional finite element (FE) model of the Chinese adult human neck.
• To investigate the dynamic response of the Chinese human neck under frontal impact conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized CT scanning data (DICOM format) for anatomical accuracy.
• Employed Materialise Mimics and Pro-E for 3D reconstruction and TrueGrid for meshing.
• Developed a detailed FE model (C1-T1) with 24,916 nodes and 15,023 elements, including specific components like vertebrae, discs, ligaments, and muscles.
• Validated the model using LS-DYNA by comparing simulated dynamic responses with experimental results under frontal impact.

Main Results:

• Successfully constructed a detailed 3D FE model of the Chinese human neck.
• The model accurately simulated dynamic responses during impact conditions when compared to experimental data.
• The proposed method enables rapid and accurate development of complex FE models with eight-node elements for stable computation.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D FE model provides a reliable tool for analyzing the dynamic behavior of the Chinese human neck during impacts.
• This validated model can significantly contribute to research on Chinese neck injury prevention and treatment.