The importance of modal validation for biomechanical models, demonstrated by application to the cervical spine

The cervical spine is one of the most complex structures in the human skeleton and its behaviour during impact is still poorly understood. Therefore, there is a need for further experimental and theoretical analysis. This study is based on an existing FE human neck model and focuses on its numerical modal analysis. Natural frequencies and mode shapes of the head-neck system are identified in three dimensions. For specific modes it was possible to superimpose the numerical result to the experimental one in order to perform the model validation in the frequency domain.