Overview
A recent epidemiological study conducted by researchers at the IBRC has shown that abdominal injuries account for nearly five percent of all injuries that occur during motor vehicle collisions (MVC) and rank in the top five compared to all body regions. Abdominal injuries caused by MVCs may be life threatening, especially due to the lack of early symptoms which leads to a late diagnosis. In order to prevent injury to the abdomen, researchers at the IBRC are investigating mechanisms of abdominal injury by simulating dynamic crash situations using post-mortem human subjects (PMHS) and anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) in a laboratory setting. Additionally, finite-element simulations are being performed to further understand the mechanical response of the abdomen under various loading modes.
Current research is focused on evaluating abdominal injury risk in vulnerable occupants such small females and elderly occupants. Previous work has investigated responses of 50th percentile male PMHS and ATD subjected to abdominal loading using rigid impactor and seatbelt mechanisms, leading to the development an injury risk function based on vascular pressure.
Recent Publications & Presentations
Biofidelity Evaluation of THOR 5th Percentile Female ATD
Z Wang, E Lee, J Bolte, J Below, B Loeber, R Ramachandra, B Greenlees, D Guck
International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury at Athens, Greece (2018).
Abdominal Biofidelity Assessment of 50th Percentile Male and 10-Year-Old ATD Responses Relative to a Recently Developed Belt-Loading Corridor
Rakshit Ramachandra, Yun-Seok Kang, Alena Hagedorn, Jason Stammen, John Bolte IV
International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury at Antwerp, Belgium (2017).
Biomechanical Responses of PMHS Subjected to Abdominal Seatbelt Loading
Rakshit Ramachandra, John Bolte, Yun-Seok Kang, Jason Stammen, Kevin Moorhouse, Alena Hagedorn, Rodney Herriott
Stapp Car Crash Journal (2016).
Pressure-Based Abdominal Injury Criteria Using Isolated Liver and Full-Body Post-Mortem Human Subject Impact Tests
MA Kremer, HM Gustafson, J Bolte
Stapp Car Crash Journal (2011).