Computational modeling and analysis of thoracolumbar spine fractures in frontal crash reconstruction

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to reconstruct 11 motor vehicle crashes (6 with thoracolumbar fractures and 5 without thoracolumbar fractures) and analyze the fracture mechanism, fracture predictors, and associated parameters affecting thoracolumbar spine response.

Methods: Eleven frontal crashes were reconstructed with a finite element simplified vehicle model (SVM). The SVM was tuned to each case vehicle and the Total HUman Model for Safety (THUMS) Ver. 4.01 was scaled and positioned in a baseline configuration to mimic the documented precrash driver posture. The event data recorder crash pulse was applied as a boundary condition. For the 6 thoracolumbar fracture cases, 120 simulations to quantify uncertainty and response variation were performed using a Latin hypercube design of experiments (DOE) to vary seat track position, seatback angle, steering column angle, steering column position, and D-ring height. Vertebral loads and bending moments were analyzed, and lumbar spine indices (unadjusted and age-adjusted) were developed to quantify the combined loading effect. Maximum principal strain and stress data were collected in the vertebral cortical and trabecular bone. DOE data were fit to regression models to examine occupant positioning and thoracolumbar response correlations.

Results: Of the 11 cases, both the vertebral compression force and bending moment progressively increased from superior to inferior vertebrae. Two thoracic spine fracture cases had higher average compression force and bending moment across all thoracic vertebral levels, compared to 9 cases without thoracic spine fractures (force: 1,200.6 vs. 640.8 N; moment: 13.7 vs. 9.2?Nm). Though there was no apparent difference in bending moment at the L1–L2 vertebrae, lumbar fracture cases exhibited higher vertebral bending moments in L3–L4 (fracture/nonfracture: 45.7 vs. 33.8?Nm). The unadjusted lumbar spine index correctly predicted thoracolumbar fracture occurrence for 9 of the 11 cases (sensitivity?=?1.0; specificity?=?0.6). The age-adjusted lumbar spine index correctly predicted thoracolumbar fracture occurrence for 10 of the 11 cases (sensitivity?=?1.0; specificity?=?0.8). The age-adjusted principal stress in the trabecular bone was an excellent indicator of fracture occurrence (sensitivity?=?1.0; specificity?=?1.0). A rearward seat track position and reclined seatback increased the thoracic spine bending moment by 111–329%. A more reclined seatback increased the lumbar force and bending moment by 16–165% and 67–172%, respectively.

Conclusions: This study provided a computational framework for assessing thoracolumbar fractures and also quantified the effect of precrash driver posture on thoracolumbar response. Results aid in the evaluation of motor vehicle crash–induced vertebral fractures and the understanding of factors contributing to fracture risk.     

基于模糊优化理论的生物质裂解装置转锥有限元安全分析

提出一种将模糊数学理论和有限元法相结合的结构优化分析方法,建立转锥模糊优化的数学模型,给出目标函数、设计变量和模糊约束条件;通过合理模拟转锥的边界条件和受力状况,建立生物质裂解装置转锥的有限元结构优化模型并划分网格,同时引入实际载荷及边界条件;根据约束的性质和设计要求,选取了模糊约束隶属函数,在优化过程中提出一种改进的水平截集法来考虑模糊约束的影响,从而调整最优解在空间的位置,可求得比传统优化方法更为合理的数学解;根据算法框图进行模糊优化运算,与普通优化设计方法所得结果相比,转锥的重量减轻5.2%.笔者为转锥及其他机械结构的优化设计和安全分析,提供了一种新的途径和依据.     

原油储罐基础沉降在线监测与安全性研究

为满足我国各地原油储备及周转需要,油田企业建设有大型原油储罐。部分储罐随着服役年数的增加,出现由于储罐地基的不均匀沉降而导致的罐壁变形,进而浮盘不能自由升降的现象。通过对储罐基础实测沉降数据建立储罐有限元模型,由计算结果分析研究基础沉降储罐的结构响应,并提出该储罐的安全运行液位,可为使用年限较久的储罐的安全评估提供一定的指导。     

地铁深基坑变形规律及影响因素数值模拟研究

依托黄土地区某城市地铁车站深基坑工程为背景,建立有限元模型,对深基坑施工过程进行有限元分析,对不同工序下深基坑围护结构的变形规律进行研究;以土层粘聚力、钢支撑位置及桩入土深度为影响因素,分别进行模拟分析.研究表明:有限元模拟方法能有效反映基坑维护结构位移变形规律,黄土粘聚力、钢支撑施作位置及围护桩入土深度的变化对基坑围护结构及周围地表位移有一定影响,设计中的钢支撑位置是最优的设置位置.     

地质滑坡条件下不同因素对油气管道危险性影响分析

地质滑坡对油气管道的安全运行危害很大.建立横向滑坡管道有限元模型,分析管道的力学行为和极限状态,研究了滑坡位移、滑坡规模、埋深和土质等因素对管道变形和应力的影响,为可能滑坡地区管道的设计、施工和维护提供理论依据和技术参考.     

电除尘器进风箱的有限元分析

介绍了一种用有限元分析软件Ansys对电除尘器进风箱进行计算的方法,用该方法求解了进风箱工作条件下的应力应变.分析结果证明了应力和应变在进风箱上分布的不均匀性,为工程分析和优化设计提供了必需的数据.同时指出,该方法是一种对电除尘部件进行有限元分析的通用方法.     

追尾碰撞下液罐车罐体变形失效仿真研究

为降低罐车追尾碰撞造成的危害,运用Hyper Mesh软件建立客车和罐车的有限元模型,并将该模型导入LS-DYNA程序,构建追尾碰撞仿真模型;计算2车碰撞过程中罐体结构变形量,分析不同冲击载荷和液体属性对罐体碰撞的应力分布、位移变化以及损伤变形演变的影响,验证该模型的科学性和有效性;并以罐车装载汽油为例进行计算与分析。结果表明:相同接触位移下,初始撞击速度越大,罐体变形量越大;同一碰撞速度下,变形位移量与接触位移呈正相关;充装率为0.9时,罐体破裂的临界碰撞速度为43 km/h;用该仿真模型能够得出罐体破裂失效后的液体泄漏速率和泄漏量等参数。     

Driver Injury Risk Variability in Finite Element Reconstructions of Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN) Frontal Motor Vehicle Crashes

Objective: A 3-phase real-world motor vehicle crash (MVC) reconstruction method was developed to analyze injury variability as a function of precrash occupant position for 2 full-frontal Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN) cases.

Method: Phase I: A finite element (FE) simplified vehicle model (SVM) was developed and tuned to mimic the frontal crash characteristics of the CIREN case vehicle (Camry or Cobalt) using frontal New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash test data. Phase II: The Toyota HUman Model for Safety (THUMS) v4.01 was positioned in 120 precrash configurations per case within the SVM. Five occupant positioning variables were varied using a Latin hypercube design of experiments: seat track position, seat back angle, D-ring height, steering column angle, and steering column telescoping position. An additional baseline simulation was performed that aimed to match the precrash occupant position documented in CIREN for each case. Phase III: FE simulations were then performed using kinematic boundary conditions from each vehicle's event data recorder (EDR). HIC15, combined thoracic index (CTI), femur forces, and strain-based injury metrics in the lung and lumbar vertebrae were evaluated to predict injury.

Results: Tuning the SVM to specific vehicle models resulted in close matches between simulated and test injury metric data, allowing the tuned SVM to be used in each case reconstruction with EDR-derived boundary conditions. Simulations with the most rearward seats and reclined seat backs had the greatest HIC15, head injury risk, CTI, and chest injury risk. Calculated injury risks for the head, chest, and femur closely correlated to the CIREN occupant injury patterns. CTI in the Camry case yielded a 54% probability of Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 2+ chest injury in the baseline case simulation and ranged from 34 to 88% (mean = 61%) risk in the least and most dangerous occupant positions. The greater than 50% probability was consistent with the case occupant's AIS 2 hemomediastinum. Stress-based metrics were used to predict injury to the lower leg of the Camry case occupant. The regional-level injury metrics evaluated for the Cobalt case occupant indicated a low risk of injury; however, strain-based injury metrics better predicted pulmonary contusion. Approximately 49% of the Cobalt occupant's left lung was contused, though the baseline simulation predicted 40.5% of the lung to be injured.

Conclusions: A method to compute injury metrics and risks as functions of precrash occupant position was developed and applied to 2 CIREN MVC FE reconstructions. The reconstruction process allows for quantification of the sensitivity and uncertainty of the injury risk predictions based on occupant position to further understand important factors that lead to more severe MVC injuries.     

LEAP-1A发动机PSS系统防结冰改装设计

为预防LEAP-1A发动机压力感压子系统(PSS)内部水汽凝结可能导致的感压元件信号出现错误,从而影响发动机的控制和飞行安全的问题,利用仿真手段对PSS进行防结冰改装研究。建立PSS系统的有限元模型,结合真实航班数据,探究机匣内部在不同工况下的结冰条件;分析系统结冰导致的故障模式和严酷度,并研究PSS系统的故障告警模式;在此基础上,设计PSS系统防结冰改装方案,提出防结冰模拟仿真及验证方法,并得到结合试验的结果验证判据。结果表明:基于压力歧管压差控制加热的改装方案能有效避免PSS系统结冰引发的故障,压力差的数值为样机试验提供判据。     

提速货车钩尾框安全使用寿命的估算方法

提出一种估算提速货车钩尾框安全使用寿命的方法.该方法基于损伤容限设计思想,通过子模型有限元技术和虚拟裂纹扩展方法,仿真应力集中区的裂纹及其扩展,应用能量释放率理论计算裂纹前沿的应力强度因子,由Paris公式估算在实测载荷谱下钩尾框的裂纹扩展寿命.估算结果与统计的使用寿命有较好的一致性.     

基于有限元法的工字形结构安全优化设计

为了提高工字形结构安全力学性能,采用设计软件建立结构优化模型,通过软件Workbench进行拓扑优化辅助设计.主要对工字形结构在静载作用下开展拓扑优化设计,以质量减少百分比、最大应力、最大形变为约束条件,结构材料密度为可变参数量,结构最小体积密度设为目标函数,得出拓扑优化理想模型,为运用拓扑技术对结构安全应用领域优化提...     

有限元在安全帽设计中的应用

安全帽可以防止高空坠落物对人员头部造成伤害。在材料和工艺一定的前提下,安全帽的结构对发挥安全帽的作用尤为重要。本文首先对安全帽作用机理及使用情况进行分析,指出改善安全帽帽壳缓冲性能有利于更好地发挥安全帽的作用。然后简要介绍ANSYS的建模方案以及网格划分和自由度约束情况,通过对安全帽的ANSYS有限元分析,得出安全帽的变形和应变图,并通过分析安全帽从最低端到顶端的变形和应变情况,指出安全帽在撞击过程中的能力吸收规律,根据分析数据提出建立双层安全帽帽壳的改进方案,并再次通过有限元分析得出变形和应变图,验证了双层安全帽帽壳在缓冲方面更有效果,这种分析结果可以为安全帽帽壳的设计提供参考。     

钢筋混凝土梁在火侵袭下的反应分析

结构物在大火侵袭下,结构内部温度和结构挠度、内力将随时间发生不断变化,这种变化极为复杂。本文在试验研究的基础上,采用非线性有限元法,着重研究钢筋混凝土梁在火侵袭作用下其温度和挠度的反应,提出了一种理论分析方法,编制了计算机程序,对钢筋混凝土梁的温度、挠度和内力的反应进行了计算,并得到试验结果的验证。     

非均质黏土地基单桩基础水平极限承载力研究

为减少海上风机长期受到风浪流等水平荷载的影响,利用ABAQUS软件建立非均质黏土单桩基础极限承载力有限元模型,利用温度作为虚拟变量以反映非均质黏性土抗剪强度随深度变化的关系,采用生死单元法进行地应力平衡,并比较有限元得到的水平荷载下单桩基础承载力变化结果与离心机试验结果,以验证其准确性。结合刚性桩与刚柔性桩水平极限荷载下土体失效模式,分析不同长径比、土体弹性模量系数、桩土摩擦因数等参数对单桩基础水平极限承载力影响。结果表明:桩体预埋深度增加后,桩体从刚性桩向刚柔性桩转变,土体破坏模式从楔形、旋转破坏转变为楔形、满流和旋转破坏。土体弹性模量系数对单桩基础水平极限承载力影响较小,长径比和桩土摩擦系数对单桩基础水平极限承载力有较大影响。