Finite element analysis of human rib fracture under various impact loading conditions

Journal article, 2014

This study aimed at investigating the mechanism of the human rib fracture under various impact loading conditions based on different failure models. For this purpose, a validated FE thorax model was utilized for analysis of the rib fractures. Based on the human anatomical structures, the human thorax FE model consists of ribs, vertebras, sternum, costal cartilages, internal organs, and soft tissues. Material properties used in this model were based on the published literature. The phenomenon of human rib fractures was simulated in different configurations, including structural experiments of single rib and human thorax frontal crash experiments with a cylinder impactor. Based on different rib fracture failure models in human injury biomechanics, the rib fractures from simulations were analyzed and compared with the impact responses obtained from all of the experiments from the literature. The simulation results with the FE model showed that the applicability of rib fracture failure model would depend on the loading conditions. It was proved that the FE model could be used in research of human rib fracture biomechanics under various impact loading conditions in vehicle traffic accidents.