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The Role of Interface Shape on the Impact Characteristics and Cranial Fracture Patterns Using the Immature Porcine Head Model , ,
Author(s) -
Vaughan Patrick E.,
Vogelsberg Caitlin C. M.,
Vollner Jennifer M.,
Fenton Todd W.,
Haut Roger C.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.13111
Subject(s) - fracture (geology) , impact energy , biomechanics , materials science , head (geology) , orthodontics , surface (topology) , anatomy , geology , forensic engineering , composite material , medicine , geometry , mathematics , engineering , geomorphology
The forensic literature suggests that when adolescents fall onto edged and pointed surfaces, depressed fractures can occur at low energy levels. This study documents impact biomechanics and fracture characteristics of infant porcine skulls dropped onto flat, curved, edged, and focal surfaces. Results showed that the energy needed for fracture initiation was nearly four times higher against a flat surface than against the other surfaces. While characteristic measures of fracture such as number and length of fractures did not vary with impact surface shape, the fracture patterns did depend on impact surface shape. While experimental impacts against the flat surface produced linear fractures initiating at sutural boundaries peripheral to the point of impact ( POI ), more focal impacts produced depressed fractures initiating at the POI . The study supported case‐based forensic literature suggesting cranial fracture patterns depend on impact surface shape and that fracture initiation energy is lower for more focal impacts.