Role of Interface on the Impact Characteristics and Cranial Fracture Patterns Using the Immature Porcine Head Model

• NCJ Number: 249388
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 61 Issue: S1 Dated: January 2016 Pages: S53-S59
• Author(s): Trevor S. Deland; Emily Niespodziewanski; Todd W. Fenton; Roger C. Haut
• Date Published: January 2016
• Length: 7 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2011-DN-BX-K540
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Publication Format: Article; Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented in part at the 66th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, February 17-22, 2014, in Seattle, WA.

Annotation

This study examined the role of impact interface characteristics on the biomechanics and patterns of cranial fracture, using infant porcine skulls, aged 2-19 days.

Abstract

The skulls were dropped onto four surfaces with an energy that caused fracturing. The four surfaces varied in stiffness, ranging from a rigid plate to one covered with plush carpeting. Results showed that heads dropped onto the rigid surface produced more extensive cranial fracturing than those dropped onto carpeted surfaces. Contact forces generated at fracture initiation and the overall maximum contact forces were generally lower for the rigid than carpeted impacts. Although the degree of cranial fracturing from impacts onto the heavy carpeted surface was comparable to that of lower-energy rigid surface impacts, there were fewer diastatic fractures. This suggests that characteristics of the cranial fracture patterns may be used to differentiate energy level from impact interface in pediatric forensic cases. (Publisher abstract modified)