Wilhoit, James C.2018-12-182018-12-181980Scott, Allison Cooper. "Stress distribution in the human buttocks." (1980) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104848">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104848</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104848One of the foremost problems in rehabilitation today is the prevention of bedsores or decubitus ulcers in spinal cord-injured patients. For those patients who must spend great lengths of time in a wheelchair, the wheelchair cushion is of vital importance in avoiding the high forces on the skin that could cause tissue breakdown. The finite element method was used to analyze a two-dimensional model of the human buttocks. The normal and shear stresses in the flesh were determined for several body types supported by a variety of cushion materials. Results permitted a comparison of external pressure measurements made experimentally with calculated internal stresses. Thus, analysis supplemented clinical observations in evaluating the ability of cushion materials to minimize stresses in the flesh.70 ppengCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.ThesisRICE2494reformatted digitalTHESIS M.E. 1980 SCOTT