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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
Dynamic response of a human head to a foreign object impact
Shi Wei Gong1, Heow Pueh Lee, Chun Lu
1Institute of High Performance Computing, 1 Science Park Road, #01-01 The Capricorn, Singapore Science Park II, Singapore 117528, Singapore. gongsw@ihpc.a-star.edu.sg
This study analyzes human head impact response using a 3-D finite-element (FE) model and a novel contact force function. Results predict intracranial pressure changes under various impact conditions, validated against experimental data.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Computational Mechanics
- Injury Biomechanics
Background:
- Understanding human head response to impact is crucial for injury prevention.
- Existing models often lack detailed contact force integration.
- Finite-element (FE) analysis is a powerful tool for simulating complex physical phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the human head's response to foreign object impact.
- To develop and integrate a novel head-striker contact force function.
- To investigate the effects of impact conditions on intracranial pressure.
Main Methods:
- Integration of a head-striker contact force function with a 3-D finite-element (FE) head model.
- Utilizing an explicit FE solver to predict head response to impact.
- Verification of the analysis against published experimental data.
Main Results:
- The developed contact force function accurately estimates head-striker interaction.
- The FE model successfully predicts human head response to impact.
- The study provides insights into how impact conditions influence intracranial pressure.
Conclusions:
- The integrated FE approach provides a validated method for analyzing head impact biomechanics.
- The findings contribute to a better understanding of head injury mechanisms.
- This analysis can inform the design of protective measures and safety standards.
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