Multi-Objective Optimization Study on Ligament Characteristics of Neck Finite Element Model 2022-01-0862

This paper proposes a new method to improve the fit between the neck finite element calculation results and the experimental data through multi-objective optimization of cervical ligament parameters. By refining a previously established finite element model of the neck and improving the fineness of vertebrae and other structures, a new finite element model of the neck was established. The new model adopts the same material property parameters as the previous model. We performed many simulation calculations, each time only one ligament in the model was removed, leaving other structures unchanged. By observing the changes in the angle of the neck joints in the neck torsion experiment of the model before and after the ligament was removed, the influence of the ligament on the model was obtained. The six ligaments with the largest contribution are selected, and their laxity is optimized for multi-objective research, and the optimal solution for the laxity of the selected ligaments is obtained. The optimized ligament relaxation parameters are applied to the neck model to verify the effectiveness of the Panjabi’s experiment. The calculated joint angle is in good agreement with the experimental data. Furthermore, using the forward flexion and extension motion angles of Nightingale et al. 2007 model to simulate and verify the present model, the calculated value is basically consistent with the experimental value. In order to further verify the effectiveness of the established neck model, the head and neck drop experiment, the front collision and rear collision experiment of the volunteer trolley were used for simulation verification. The results show that the calculated values of head centroid displacement, acceleration, and head rotation angle fit well with the experimental values.