ABSTRACT
Military aircrew may be more prone to developing musculoskeletal disabilities involving the spine due to the anatomical characteristics of the spine and the complex accelerative environment. In some uncommon situations (such as ejection or flight maneuver), the impact load may be severe enough to injure the pilot. The spine, especially the cervical spine and thoracolumbar junction, are particularly susceptible to fracture in high-stress conditions. Many factors that affect the degree of injury to the pilot have been investigated through physical testing and simulation. Compared with physical experiments, computer simulations provide more detailed information at lower costs and offer better repeatability. The aim of this chapter is to introduce the development of a finite element model of the spine and its application in investigating how to protect the spine from injury under accelerative impact conditions often faced by aircrew.
