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Sensitivity Analysis for Multidirectional Spaceflight Loading and Muscle Deconditioning on Astronaut Response

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Abstract

A sensitivity analysis for loading conditions and muscle deconditioning on astronaut response for spaceflight transient accelerations was carried out using a mid-size male human body model with active musculature. The model was validated in spaceflight-relevant 2.5–15 g loading magnitudes in seven volunteer tests, showing good biofidelity (CORA: 0.69). Sensitivity analysis was carried out in simulations varying pulse magnitude (5, 10, and 15 g), rise time (32.5 and 120 ms), and direction (10 directions: frontal, rear, vertical, lateral, and their combination) along with muscle size change (± 15% change) and responsiveness (pre-braced, relaxed, vs. delayed response) changes across 600 simulations. Injury metrics were most sensitive to the loading direction (50%, partial-R2) and least sensitive to muscle size changes (0.2%). The pulse magnitude also had significant effect on the injury metrics (16%), whereas muscle responsiveness (3%) and pulse rise time (2%) had only slight effects. Frontal and upward loading directions were the worst for neck, spine, and lower extremity injury metrics, whereas rear and downward directions were the worst for head injury metrics. Higher magnitude pulses and pre-bracing also increased the injury risk.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a NASA Human Research Program Grant No. NNX16AP89G. The authors would like to thank Jeffrey Somers (NASA), Nathaniel Newby (KBR), and Keegan Yates (KBR) for their inputs on study design. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the GHBMC, NASA, or KBR. All simulations were run on the Distributed Environment for Academic Computing (DEAC) high-performance computing cluster at Wake Forest University with the support of Cody Stevens and Adam Carlson.

Conflict of interest

Dr. Gayzik is a co-owner and Dr. Weaver is a consultant of Elemance, LLC, which provides academic and commercial licenses for the GHBMC-owned human body computer models.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 575 N. Patterson Ave, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA

    Mitesh Lalwala, Karan S. Devane, Bharath Koya, F. Scott Gayzik & Ashley A. Weaver

  2. Virginia Tech-Wake Forest Center for Injury Biomechanics, 575 N. Patterson Ave, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA

    Mitesh Lalwala, Karan S. Devane, Bharath Koya, F. Scott Gayzik & Ashley A. Weaver

  3. Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 525 Vine Street, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA

    Fang-Chi Hsu

Authors
  1. Mitesh Lalwala
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  2. Karan S. Devane
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  5. F. Scott Gayzik
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Correspondence to Ashley A. Weaver.

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Associate Editor Stefan M. Duma oversaw the review of this article.

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Lalwala, M., Devane, K.S., Koya, B. et al. Sensitivity Analysis for Multidirectional Spaceflight Loading and Muscle Deconditioning on Astronaut Response. Ann Biomed Eng 51, 430–442 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-022-03054-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-022-03054-4

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