Dynamic response and material sensitivity analysis of pelvic complex numerical model under side impact.

BACKGROUND: The surrogate design and clinical diagnostic suggest that the pelvic dynamic response should be the basis of bone fracture mechanism study under side impact. Pelvic response indicators are the impact force, compression (C), viscous criterion (VC), bone stress, and bone strain. However, no evaluation of these indicators has been conducted.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pelvic response indicators under side impact.

METHODS: A sitting pelvic finite element (FE) complex model comprising bone, artery, ligaments, and soft tissue was constructed. The dynamic response of the model under side impact with initial velocity of 3 m/s was investigated and material sensitivity analysis was complemented by changing bone elastic modulus.

RESULTS: The pelvic FE model could predict response under side impact. Specifically, the indicators such as artery pressure and strain, together with the ligaments axial force and strain were provided. The sensitivity analysis showed the impact force, bone stress, and axial force were sensitive to the elastic modulus, whereas, C, VC, bone strain, and artery pressure were not.

CONCLUSIONS: The sitting FE model in this study can predict pelvic dynamic response, and C, VC, bone strain and artery pressure are proposed for pelvic tolerance instead of impact force under side impact.