Numerical Analysis of Liver Biomechanical Response in Blunt Impacts to Upper Abdomen

Abstract

Hepatic injury induced by blunt abdominal impact is a major cause of death in vehicle crashes. However, few works have been done effectively in cadaver experiments to clarify the liver’s specific dynamic behavior and mechanical characteristics. This paper described the dynamic behavior and mechanical characteristics of the liver under blunt impacts to the upper abdomen with the finite element model (FEM) of the Chinese human body — the 50 percentile-sized male (CHUBM-M50). The simulation matrix, three directions (frontal, oblique, lateral), and four speeds included in each group were designed with a 23.4[Formula: see text]kg, rigid cylindrical impactor aligning the T11 level. The liver deformation contours displayed compression against the spine and rotation in the horizontal plane, which were the two main features in liver motion. Pressure distribution in the liver capsule and parenchyma was discussed to elucidate the biomechanical characteristics related to impact direction. Generally, the stress distribution in the capsule was 10 times higher than that in the parenchyma. A discussion of the injury mechanism of the liver capsule and parenchyma observed in the simulations was given upon the pressure distribution. It demonstrated that the capsule could protect liver parenchyma at low-speed impacts and should not be neglected for understanding liver injury mechanisms.