Characterizing Natural Frequencies of the Hybrid III and NOCSAE Headforms

The vibrational characteristics of the Hybrid III and NOCSAE headforms are not well understood. It is hypothesized that they may perform differently in certain loading environments due to their structural differences; their frequency responses may differ depending on the impact characteristics. Short-duration impacts excite a wider range of headform frequencies than longer-duration (padded) impacts. While headforms generally perform similarly during padded head impacts where resonant frequencies are avoided, excitation of resonant frequencies during short-duration impacts can result in differences in kinematic measurements between headforms for the matched impacts. This study aimed to identify the natural frequencies of each headform through experimental modal analysis techniques. An impulse hammer was used to excite various locations on both the Hybrid III and NOCSAE headforms. The resulting frequency response functions were analyzed to determine the first natural frequencies. The average first natural frequency of the NOCSAE headform was 812 Hz. The Hybrid III headform did not exhibit any natural frequencies below 1000 Hz. Comparisons of our results with previous studies of the human head suggest that the NOCSAE headform's vibrational response aligns more closely with that of the human head, as it exhibits lower natural frequencies. This insight is particularly relevant for assessing head injury risk in short-duration impact scenarios, where resonant frequencies can influence the injury outcome.