A computational model of the human head and neck system for the analysis of whiplash motion

摘要

This paper presents the development and validation of a three-dimensional multi-body model of the human head and neck for the study of whiplash motion. The model is composed of cervical spine vertebrae, intervertebral discs, ligaments, and muscles, and has been validated against experimental data for small and large static loading conditions. The resulting main and coupled displacements of the individual motion segments have been shown to be accurate and the moment generating capacity of the neck muscle elements to be realistic. The model has been used for the dynamic simulation of impacts in frontal, lateral and rear-end directions. For rear-end impacts the characteristics of 'whiplash' motion have been accurately reproduced in terms of head and vertebral kinematics. The model results with active musculature suggest that, for rear-end impact, the influence of active muscle response is unable to significantly alter the head and neck kinematics of an initially unaware occupant but will affect the forces developed in the cervical soft-tissues.