A New Fluid Dynamic Module to Extend Human Body FE-Modelling for Multidisciplinary Prediction of Whiplash Injury

Research Project, 2023

Future small, light, energy efficient and potentially automated vehicles will still be involved in minor collisions. These collisions will most likely not lead to fatalities, but can lead to long term consequences and medical impairment. The most prominent example is whiplash injuries to the neck, that currently account for over half of Sweden’s societal traffic injury costs. Females are two to three times more susceptible to these injuries, but only men are represented in current testing. Small light vehicles typically experience higher acceleration levels and are therefore at particular risk in this context.

The project will deliver an upgraded family of Open Source (OS) FE-Human Body Models (HBM), representing women and men, equipped with a unique whiplash injury assessment capability. The HBM will be coupled to a unique new  Fluid Dynamics simulation software that reproduces injurious pressure transients in the human vertebral canal.