Finite element modeling and injury criteria investigation for the lower leg of the Chinese human body under impact loads

Abstract

The widely used human body injury criteria were established based on the biomechanical response of the Euro-American human body, without considering the differences in anthropometry and injury characteristics among different races, particularly the Chinese human body which typically has the smaller body size. The absence of such race specific design considerations negatively influences the injury prevention capability for these populations, and weakens the applicability of injury criteria. To resolve these issues, this study aims to develop a lower leg finite element model of a 50th percentile Chinese male. The model is built based on the medical images of an average size Chinese male with detailed ankle ligaments and lower leg muscles modeled. Data from sixty experiments available in the literature are used to validate its biofidelity. Using the validated model, the lower leg model is subjected to combined axial compression and bending loads to evaluate its injury criteria. Compared with a typical Euro-American human body mode, the Chinese lower leg presents reduced mechanical tolerance, and the revised tibia index may be an appropriate injury criteria for the Chinese lower leg. Additionally, the validated model reproduces the pedestrian lower leg fracture in a domestic accident.

Keywords

• Chinese human body
• Lower limb model
• Impact load
• Injury tolerance
• Tibia index