Finite element analysis vs experimental study of head firearm wound in pig.

To establish a finite element (FE) model of the pig head for simulating firearm wounds. An experimental study was carried out by measuring impact load parameters from 17 fresh pig heads that were shot at the right part of cranium by a standard 7.62 mm M43 bullet. FE analysis was executed through the LS-DYNA code under impact loads similar to those obtained from the experimental study. The residual velocity, the transferred energy from the bullet to the cranium, and the surface area of the entrance showed no statistical differences between the FE simulation and the experimental study. However, the mean surface area of the exit wounds was significantly larger than that of the entrance wounds in the experimental and FE study. Although the results of FE analysis corresponded with the experiment study, FE analysis further revealed that the stress zones were mainly located at the impact region of the cranium, mainly located in occipital lobe, frontal lobe and skull base of brain, with a lower speed of stress distribution. The FE model was appropriate and conformed to the basic principles of wound ballistics.