Evaluation of the Benefits of Parametric Human Body Model Morphing for Prediction of Injury to Elderly Occupants in Side Impact

Paper in proceeding, 2019

Recently developed Human Body Model (HBM) morphing methods using parametric representative target geometries have enabled morphing of a baseline HBM to many anthropometries, including elderly females. This study investigated the potential benefits for thoracic injury risk prediction of parametric morphing of a HBM. A baseline HBM was morphed to match the subject-specific geometry of two elderly female post mortem human subjects (PMHS) in two steps. First, parametric morphing was performed using target geometries representative of the PMHS’s sex, age, stature and mass. In the second step, the parametrically morphed models were further personalized by morphing to subject-specific skeletal geometry and external torso shape. Side-impact sled tests conducted with these PMHS were recreated by means of simulations with the baseline and morphed HBMs. Results showed that the parametrically morphed models showed improved correlation with PMHS kinematics compared with the baseline HBM predictions and performed as well as the further personalized models. Both parametric and personalized HBMs failed to predict the PMHS chestband deflection magnitudes and predicted no risk for rib fractures. In contrast, both PMHS sustained multiple fractured ribs during testing. In conclusion, parametric HBM morphing alone improved prediction of individual kinematics, but neither morphing method improved individual injury risk prediction.