Elemance, LLC

Design for the Human at the Center of It All

Website

About the firm

Elemance is an engineering software and services practice that explores the interaction of technologies with the human body using finite element analysis and data science-based approaches. It is the sole distributor of the GHBMC (Global Human Body Model Consortium) family of virtual human body models, licensing them to industry and academic researchers worldwide. It also provides biomechanical R&D engineering services, including custom model enhancement and applied biomechanics consulting, serving the automotive, aerospace, military, sports, and healthcare industries.

Established
2014
Team
Small
Firm type
Mechanical Engineering · Simulation Engineering · Defense Engineering · Aerospace Engineering · Software Engineering

People

Joel StitzelCEO, Co-Founder

Scott GayzikCTO, Co-Founder

Matthew DavisChief Operating Officer

James GaewskySenior Engineer

Tanner FilbenSenior Engineer

Zach HostetlerSenior Engineer

Elizabeth CarlsonProject Manager

Sarah StitzelSales & Licensing Manager

Nolan NortonResearch Engineer

Drew DiSerafinoBiomechanical Engineer

Jeremy SchapBiomechanical Engineer

Sarah CrimminsBiomechanical Engineer

Brooke IrelandAssociate Engineer

Aravind SundararajanBiomedical Engineer

Wade Von KleeckBiomedical Engineer

Capabilities

Virtual Human Body Model Licensing

Service website

Licensing of the complete family of GHBMC virtual human body models to industry and academic researchers.

  • Detailed Injury Prediction Models

    Highly complex, robust models representing detailed musculoskeletal systems and explicitly modeled internal organs designed for localized tissue injury risk prediction.

  • Simplified Kinematics and Kinetics Models

    Computationally efficient models with reduced element density and simplified materials, optimized for fast run times, kinematics, and kinetics.

  • Regional and Anthropometric Variations

    Models available in specific body regions and morphed configurations representing a wide range of statures, ages, sexes, and postures.

Custom Model Enhancement

Service website

Modification and enhancement of licensed human body models to meet the specific research and testing objectives of engineering teams.

  • Component Customization

    Modifying specific components or regions of a human body model to simulate targeted environments or interactions.

  • Specialized Software Integration

    Developing and integrating specialized software to extract detailed metrics and custom simulation data from human body models.

Biomechanical Research & Development

Service website

Collaborative engineering services to supplement internal research and development through advanced finite element modeling and physical simulation.

  • Impact and Drop Test Simulations

    Simulating drop tests, crash tests, and dynamic impacts to evaluate the performance of safety systems and protective gear.

  • Military Insult Modeling

    Simulating complex military scenarios including Behind Armor Blunt Trauma, Underbody Blast, and ejection injuries.

  • Spaceflight and Aerospace Safety Analysis

    Evaluating rockets, space suits, seats, and restraints to predict injury risks and operational suitability under aerospace loading conditions.

  • Injury Prevention and Mitigation

    Applying injury biomechanics expertise to identify product vulnerabilities and optimize designs for enhanced user safety.

Industries

Automotive · Aerospace · Space · Defense · Sports & Recreation · Healthcare · Medical Devices

Projects

Validation for Spaceflight Testing

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base · Space · Client: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base / USAF Armstrong

Project details

Conducted finite element validation simulations using horizontal impulse accelerator and vertical deceleration tower test matrices. Simulations evaluated the GHBMC 50th male simplified occupant (M50-OS), Hybrid III, and THOR 50th male FE models in LS-DYNA to predict injury risks in spaceflight-like loading conditions.

C5-6 Cervical Total Disc Replacement Integrity Simulation

Medical Devices

Project details

Performed computational finite element analysis to evaluate the effects of C5-6 cervical total disc replacement (CTDR) on cross-sectional neck loading and cervical spine kinematics during a simulated rotary-wing aircraft ground impact. Used a modified GHBMC M50 detailed occupant model in LS-DYNA to compare Prestige ST and ProDisc-C CTDR responses.

Simulation of Under Body Blast Impacts

Defense

Project details

Evaluated pelvic injury responses to underbody blast (UBB) events using the GHBMC 50th percentile male (M50-O) finite element model, establishing pelvic injury response criteria for roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Football Helmet Reverse Engineering and Virtual Testing

Sports & Recreation · Client: National Football League (NFL) / Wake Forest University

Project details

Collaborated with Wake Forest University to develop an shared-code finite element model of the Schutt Air XP Pro football helmet. This reverse-engineering process involved image-based geometry development, material characterization, and model validation across 70 matched simulation-to-experimental tests to study in-game modes of impact and head injury risk.