Validation of Lower Limb Surrogates as Injury Assessment Tools in Floor Impacts due to Anti-Vehicular Land Mines

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of lower limb surrogates to predict injury due to floor/foot plate impact in military vehicles during anti-vehicular land mine explosions. Testing was conducted using two loading conditions simulated to represent those conditions created in the field. The lower condition was represented by a 24-kg mass impactor with a velocity of 4.7 m/s. The higher loading condition was represented by a 37-kg mass impactor with a velocity of 8.3 m/s. Two biomechanical surrogates were evaluated using the loading conditions: 50th percentile Hybrid III foot/ankle and Test Device for Human Occupant Restraint THOR-Lx. Comparisons of the force-time response were made to established corridors. Results show a better correlation to the corridors with the THOR-Lx; however, future improvements to the THOR-Lx are recommended.