Interactive Biomechanics of Falling Simulator

Biomechanics of Falling Simulator

Developed By : Ir. MD Nursyazwi

Instructions

This simulator models the physics of a human fall and the resulting impact force. You can configure the fall height, air density, and the physical properties of two individuals to see how different factors influence the outcome. The simulation will animate the descent and provide a detailed analysis of the results, highlighting the differences between the two scenarios. Please use this tool for educational purposes to understand the principles of biomechanics and injury prevention.

Simulation Parameters

Fall Height meters

Air Density kg/m³

Landing Surface Concrete Grass Water

Subject 1

Mass kg

Orientation Tucked (low drag) Spread-eagle (high drag)

Subject 2

Mass kg

Orientation Tucked (low drag) Spread-eagle (high drag)

Simulation and Impact Visualization

During the simulation, the velocity of the figures is represented by their falling speed. Upon impact, a text label will appear indicating the severity of the impact: Minor, Major, Critical, or Fatal.

Simulation Results

Subject 1

Final Velocity:

Peak Impact Force:

Peak Deceleration:

Subject 2

Final Velocity:

Peak Impact Force:

Peak Deceleration:

Velocity over Time

This graph shows the velocity of both subjects over the duration of the fall. The solid blue line represents Subject 1, and the dashed green line represents Subject 2. You can observe how their velocities increase before approaching terminal velocity.

Acceleration over Time

This graph shows the acceleration of both subjects over time. The solid blue line represents Subject 1, and the dashed green line represents Subject 2. The acceleration starts at g and decreases as air resistance increases, approaching zero at terminal velocity.

Comparative Analysis

The comparative analysis will appear here after the simulation.

Theoretical Framework

The biomechanics of a fall are governed by fundamental physics principles. The velocity of a falling object is primarily determined by the acceleration due to gravity (g), but is significantly influenced by air resistance, a drag force (Fd) that opposes motion. As velocity increases, Fd grows, reducing the net downward force until a constant speed, known as terminal velocity, is reached. The fall terminates with a collision, where the body's kinetic energy is converted into a destructive force. According to the impulse-momentum theorem, the force of impact is inversely proportional to the time over which the collision occurs. Force times the change in time equals the change in momentum where p is momentum. A softer surface increases the impact time (Delta t), thereby reducing the peak force experienced by the body. The resulting peak deceleration (expressed in multiples of g) is a key metric for assessing the severity of the impact and the potential for injury.

The severity of injury can be categorized based on the peak deceleration experienced during the fall. This metric directly correlates with the body's ability to absorb and dissipate energy without sustaining critical damage. The categories are: Minor, Major, Critical, and Fatal.

• Minor: Deceleration under 10 g. At this level, the body's tissues and skeletal structure can generally withstand the forces. Injuries are typically limited to soft tissue damage, such as bruises and sprains, without bone fractures.
• Major: Deceleration between 10 g and 30 g. The forces are significant enough to exceed the yield strength of certain bones and joints. This can result in severe, but not necessarily life-threatening, injuries like bone fractures (e.g., of the femur, pelvis, or spine) and dislocations.
• Critical: Deceleration between 30 g and 50 g. The immense energy transfer at impact can cause widespread and catastrophic trauma. Injuries at this level often include multiple bone fractures, severe internal organ damage, and traumatic brain injuries, posing an immediate threat to life.
• Fatal: Deceleration over 50 g. The peak forces are so extreme that they overwhelm the structural integrity of the human body. This leads to immediate and irreversible systemic failure, often involving major blood vessel rupture, organ liquefaction, and catastrophic skeletal fragmentation, resulting in death.

Disclaimer and References

This simulator is for educational purposes and provides a simplified model based on Newtonian mechanics. It does not account for complex biomechanical factors, human body posture during impact, or real-world variations. For detailed information on the biomechanics of falls and injury patterns, please consult scientific literature and medical resources.

For further reading and reference, consider these resources: Fundamentals of Biomechanics | Forensic Biomechanics (Developments in Forensic Science) | Forensic Biomechanics and Human Injury: Criminal and Civil Applications - An Engineering Approach | Forensic Biomechanics | Accidental Injury: Biomechanics and Prevention

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