Evaluation of biomechanical response and potential injury from thoracic impact.

An analytical model for the anteroposterior thoracic impact response of the human thorax is investigated to: 1) establish a comparison between the model and available cadaver data for blunt impacts, 2) demonstrate typical force, deflection, and acceleration impact response characteristics as well as additional parameters, such as stored and dissipated energies and associated powers, and 3) develop biomechanical response characteristics for frontal impacts of varying severity (i.e., mass: 2-26 kg and velocity: 2-24 m/s) within the range of model applicability. The analysis provides fundamental relationships between thoracic impact characteristics and biomechanical response and human injury potential.