Modeling and simulation credibility assessments of whole-body finite element computational models for use in NASA extravehicular activity applications

• Published in: Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 450 - 463
• Main Authors: Perkins, Richard A., Gallo, Christopher A., Ivanoff, Athena E., Yates, Keegan M., Schkurko, Courtney M., Somers, Jeffrey T., Newby, Nathaniel J., Myers, Jerry G., Prabhu, Raj K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Glenn Research Center Taylor & Francis 12.03.2025
• Subjects: Astronauts; Biomechanical Phenomena; Computer Simulation; credibility assessment; Engineering (General); Extravehicular Activity; Finite element; Finite Element Analysis; Humans; Models, Biological; United States; United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration; whole-body computational models; United States; Credibility Assessment; Whole-Body Computational Models; Finite Element; Extravehicular Activity; whole-body computational models; credibility assessment; extravehicular activity; Finite element
• ISSN: 1025-5842; 1476-8259; 1476-8259
• DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2023.2293653

Computational finite element (FE) models are used in suited astronaut injury risk assessments; however, these models' verification, validation, and credibility (VV&C) procedures for simulating injuries in altered gravity environments are limited. Our study conducts VV&C assessments of THUMS and Elemance whole-body FE models for predicting suited astronaut injury biomechanics using eight credibility factors, as per NASA-STD-7009A. Credibility factor ordinal scores are assigned by reviewing existing documentation describing VV&C practices, and credibility sufficiency thresholds are assigned based on input from subject matter experts. Our results show the FE models are credible for suited astronaut injury investigation in specific ranges of kinematic and kinetic conditions correlating to highway and contact sports events. Nevertheless, these models are deficient when applied outside these ranges. Several credibility elevation strategies are prescribed to improve models' credibility for the NASA-centric application domain.