A technique for dynamic tensile testing of human cervical spine ligaments

Abstract

An experimental study is undertaken to examine the dynamic stress-strain characteristics of ligaments from the human cervical spine (neck). Tests were conducted using a tensile split Hopkinson bar device and the engineering strain rates imposed were of the order of 102 ∼ 103/s. As ligaments are extremely soft and pliable, specialized test protocols applicable to Hopkinson bar testing were developed to facilitate acquisition of reliable and accurate data. Seven primary ligaments types from the cervical spines of three male cadavers were subjected to mechanical tests. These yielded dynamic stress-strain curves which could be approximated by empirical equations. The dynamic failure stress/load,..