Design and Fabrication of Human Head and Neck Model for Concussion and TBI Experiment

Abstract Concussions in athletes can occur from slight bumps, blows, and jolts to the head. Helmets are used to protect the athlete’s head, often tested on artificial head forms. An artificial test dummy was created to accurately model the contents and mechanical properties of a 95th percentile male head. An artificial skull was created to mimic that of the human head with a center of gravity and motions of the brain to accurately simulate that of the human head. An artificial brain and cerebrospinal fluid were used that had similar properties to the contents of the head. A neck was manufactured to accurately model human extension and flexion. An angular accelerometer was placed in a compartment inside the brain in order to read the values needed to detect a concussion to determine efficacy of helmets. The behaviors of these materials were analyzed through SolidWorks simulations and were verified through experimentation. The accelerometers read the values needed to detect a concussion with success which allowed for efficient testing of potential headgear. The model was able to sustain 109 Gs on the skull and 190 Gs on the brain, which meets the standard of 100G acceleration for a concussion.