  A series of tests were performed on a single post-mortem human subject at
various length scales. First, tabletop tests were performed. Next, the ribs and
intercostal muscles were tested with the view to characterize the load transfer
between the ribs. Finally, the costal cartilage was tested under shear loading,
as it plays an important in the transfer of the load between the ribs and the
sternum. This paper reports the results of dynamic shear loading tests
performed on three samples of costal cartilage harvested from a single
post-mortem human subject, as well as the quantification of the effective
Young's modulus estimated from the amount of cartilage calcification.
