THE HUMAN SPINAL COLUMN AND UPWARD EJECTION ACCELERATION: AN APPRAISAL OF BIODYNAMIC IMPLICATIONS
Abstract
Vertebral compression represents a significant percentage of the morbidity associated with upward ejection. Vertebral and intervertebral structure reacts to and is sometimes irreversibly altered by ejection acceleration. Design and material properties of the normal vertebral column are sufficiently constant that when structural characteristics are defined and acceleration profiles known, prediction of failure may be made. Compressive load analyses of vertebra-disc complexes demonstrated that the vertebral end- plates are the initially failing structures of the spinal column. From experimental data on vertebral breaking-loads, acceptably accurate probability- of-injury curves for static loading were generated. These data together with data describing the dynamic response characteristics of the human body permit calculation of the probability-of-injury for dynamic loading produced by exposure to impact accelerations. As an aid to the designer of ejection systems, application of these concepts should refine the estimate of 'safe' acceleration profiles and minimize the risk of irreversible vertebral deformation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0664553
Entities
People
- John H. Henzel
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory