Influence of Age Specific Parameters on the Thoracic Response under Controlled Belt Loading Conditions

Abstract

An anatomically detailed age-specific finite element model of the thoracic region of an average size Japanese elderly male was developed. The model was validated against original series of experimental data both at component and at assembled-structural level. With the validated model, a simulation based age-dependent parametric study was conducted. The results show that rib cortical bone and muscle softening due to ageing affect the structural thoracic response under controlled belt loading conditions. The thoracic model will be implemented into a full scale elderly model and is intended to support the deployment of elderly-specific safety improvement strategies.