A Finite Element Analysis Mesh of Cervical Vertebrae C2 Through C7

Parameterized Biomechanical Model of the Human Spine

Some Experiments Can Not Be Run

Despite continuous efforts to make cockpit systems safer, high-speed ejection remains one of the most dangerous experiences any aviator can face. And no aviator is going to volunteer (or be asked) to accept a few thousand strain gauges implanted into their neck and then be ejected out of a high-speed aircraft.

This danger, the likelihood of spinal injury, and the increasing number of female candidates has motivated the United States Navy to make an unprecedented effort to quantify the risk of injury to military aviators.

The initial task the Navy awarded to Southwest Research Institute of San Antonio, TX was to develop a parametric model of the cervical spine (neck) that takes into account both variabilities and uncertainties in the model data itself. Their goal was to not only quantify the probability of injury but to also quantify the difference in these probabilities between men and women aviators.

The Biomechanics group in the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Division of SwRI are uniquely qualified to quantify the uncertainty of complex systems. Their members contain an impressive combination of biomechanical knowledge and probabilistic risk assessment.

GADAB Engineering was brought into this effort at the same time that building the initial parametric vertebra in Pro-E was being recognized as an obstacle to successfully automating model generation and risk assessment.

Working with some of the engineers at SwRI, we have built a parametric model of C2 through C7 that automatically builds for various male and female parameterizations. The eventual goal would be to have on the order of 30 models build from this single set of input files.

Of course, in order to quantify our risks, we have to implement a careful V&V (Verification and Validation) program. To date, the model has passed through static testing, flexion testing and this year's dynamic verification and validation testing.