Human body model response to mechanical impulse

Abstract

Despite our understanding of the importance of falling, previous studies have ignored the effects of falls from standing height. In this article, lumped parameter linear and nonlinear models of a standing human have been used to simulate the impact response of the body segments due to inputs at the shoes. The acceleration transfer and frequency response were determined. The effect of nonlinear damping was simulated. Nonlinear effects were found to be most significant when the input amplitude increases. Frequency response attenuation was significant, resulting in almost a shift in the magnitude plots in the range (0.1-100 Hz) of frequency. When the input amplitude was reduced, the nonlinear effects became apparent only in the medium frequency range. In the case simulating a human subject exposed to impulse at the foot, a large amount of energy is dissipated in the joints due to the friction resulting in a joint disorder. This is most significant at the medium frequency range that is expected to be induced by a running human subject.