Her experience at the IBRC included a variety of experimental studies with post-mortem human subjects (PMHS aka cadavers) and anthropometric test devices (ATDs aka crash test dummies), and studying thorax biomechanics. Akshara's primary work included leading the thoracic hierarchy project by evaluating frontal thoracic response and characterizing human variability in soft tissue and skeletal response to impact through experimental PMHS testing and analytical modeling techniques. Ms. Sreedhar was also involved in other injury biomechanics research projects such as assessing side airbag and seat belt loading to vulnerable occupants (5th percentile females) in side-impact scenarios as it relates to thoracic injury risk, highly automated vehicle crashworthiness and occupant injury risk in non-standard seating positions (including sled testing and instrumentation of PMHS) and belt fit of children in various child restraint systems. She is also a Certified Child Safety Passenger Technician (CPST). As a result of her research Ms. Sreedhar has co-authored several scientific papers and presentations on thoracic injury biomechanics including the impact response and age related effects of pediatric and adult ribs.
