Dynamic Bending Tolerance of the Human Femur

Author

Dr. James R. Funk, Dr. Jason R. Kerrigan, Dr. Jeff R. Crandall

Publication

48th Annual Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, Key Biscayne, Florida. September 13-15, 2004:215-233. 48th Annual Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, Key Biscayne, Florida. September 13-15, 2004:215-233. 

Abstract

The objective of this study was to provide data on the structural tolerance and material properties of the human femur in dynamic bending. Fifteen (15) isolated femurs from eight (8) males were tested in either posterior-to-anterior or lateral-to-medial three point bending. The failure moment was 458 ± 95 Nm and did not differ significantly with loading direction. A method was developed to estimate the elastic-plastic material properties of the bone using both force-deflection data and strain gauge measurements. The bone material appeared to yield at about one third of the ultimate strain level prior to fracture. It is hoped that these data will aid in the development of injury criteria and finite element models for predicting injuries to pedestrians and vehicle occupants.