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Updated: Apr 30, 2026
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A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
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Toward a Predictive Assessment of Stab-Penetration Forces
Aisling Ní Annaidh1, Marie Cassidy, Michael Curtis
1From the *School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield; and †Office of the State Pathologist, Fire Brigade Training Centre, Marino; and ‡School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Summary
Forensic pathology and biomechanics research developed a new "stab metric" to quantify stabbing forces. This simulation-based metric aims to improve the accuracy of describing forces in stabbing incidents.
Area of Science:
- Forensic pathology
- Biomechanics
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Current methods for describing stabbing forces in forensic pathology lack quantitative accuracy.
- Understanding the biomechanical properties of human skin is crucial for analyzing injury mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hyperelastic properties of human skin.
- To determine the force required for sharp instrument penetration.
- To develop a finite element model for sharp instrument penetration simulation.
Main Methods:
- Collaborative research integrating forensic pathology and biomechanics.
- Experimental investigation of human skin's mechanical properties.
- Development and application of a finite element model for stab simulations.
Main Results:
- Characterization of human skin's hyperelastic behavior.
- Quantification of forces needed for skin penetration by sharp instruments.
- Development of a simulation-based "stab metric" for stabbing force magnitude.
Conclusions:
- The developed "stab metric" offers a more quantitative approach to describing stabbing forces.
- This metric has the potential to replace current subjective descriptors used by forensic pathologists.
- Further integration of biomechanics and forensic pathology can enhance injury analysis.
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