Feasibility Study of a Personal-Computer Based Head-Spine Model

The Head-Spine Model (HSM) is a three-dimensional, discrete element mathematical model and software program that describes the kinematics and loads of the head-neck spine structure due to high impact accelerations. The proposed Phase I development program represents an effort to rehost the FORTRAN software from a Unix workstation environment to an IBM PC-Compatible MS-DOS environment, to study the utility and cost of making software improvements to the HSM, and to evaluate the underlying mathematical model and it's validation. The proposed program will include a literature review of head-spine modeling, a preliminary effort to convert the original code to execute on a PC-Compatible computer, an structure improvements, and a review of the biomechanical model to suggest simplifications, improvements, or additional validation requirements. A user-friendly, validated, PC-Compatible HSM software product would be of use to Government and commercial scientists in the analysis of acceleration impact events and assessment of injury potential.