The ability to measure six degrees of freedom (6 DOF) head kinematics in motor vehicle crash conditions is important for assessing head-neck loads as well as brain injuries. A method for obtaining accurate 6 DOF head kinematics in short duration impact conditions is proposed and validated in this study. The proposed methodology utilizes six accelerometers and three angular rate sensors (6aω configuration) such that an algebraic equation is used to determine angular acceleration with respect to the body-fixed coordinate system, and angular velocity is measured directly rather than numerically integrating the angular acceleration. Head impact tests to validate the method were conducted using the internal nine accelerometer head of the Hybrid III dummy and the proposed 6aω scheme in both low (2.3 m/s) and high (4.0 m/s) speed impact conditions. The 6aω method was compared with a nine accelerometer array sensor package (NAP) as well as a configuration of three accelerometers and three angular rate sensors (3aω), both of which have been commonly used to measure 6 DOF kinematics of the head for assessment of brain and neck injuries. The ability of each of the three methods (6aω, 3aω, and NAP) to accurately measure 6 DOF head kinematics was quantified by calculating the normalized root mean squared deviation (NRMSD), which provides an average percent error over time. Results from the head impact tests indicate that the proposed 6aω scheme is capable of producing angular accelerations and linear accelerations transformed to a remote location that are comparable to that determined from the NAP scheme in both low and high speed impact conditions. The 3aω scheme was found to be unable to provide accurate angular accelerations or linear accelerations transformed to a remote location in the high speed head impact condition due to the required numerical differentiation. Both the 6aω and 3aω schemes were capable of measuring accurate angular displacement while the NAP instrumentation was unable to produce accurate angular displacement due to double numerical integration. The proposed 6aω scheme appears to be capable of measuring accurate 6 DOF kinematics of the head in any severity of impact conditions.
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e-mail: kang.286@osu.edu
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November 2011
Research Papers
Measurement of Six Degrees of Freedom Head Kinematics in Impact Conditions Employing Six Accelerometers and Three Angular Rate Sensors (6aω Configuration)
Yun-Seok Kang,
Yun-Seok Kang
Injury Biomechanics Research Laboratory,
e-mail: kang.286@osu.edu
The Ohio State University
, 3024 Graves Hall, 333 West 10th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210
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John H. Bolte, IV
John H. Bolte, IV
Injury Biomechanics Research Laboratory,
e-mail: bolte.6@osu.edu
The Ohio State University
, 279 Hamilton Hall, 1645 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210
Search for other works by this author on:
Yun-Seok Kang
Injury Biomechanics Research Laboratory,
The Ohio State University
, 3024 Graves Hall, 333 West 10th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210e-mail: kang.286@osu.edu
Kevin Moorhouse
John H. Bolte, IV
Injury Biomechanics Research Laboratory,
The Ohio State University
, 279 Hamilton Hall, 1645 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210e-mail: bolte.6@osu.edu
J Biomech Eng. Nov 2011, 133(11): 111007 (11 pages)
Published Online: December 8, 2011
Article history
Received:
February 15, 2011
Revised:
August 25, 2011
Posted:
November 2, 2011
Published:
December 8, 2011
Online:
December 8, 2011
Citation
Kang, Y., Moorhouse, K., and Bolte, J. H., IV (December 8, 2011). "Measurement of Six Degrees of Freedom Head Kinematics in Impact Conditions Employing Six Accelerometers and Three Angular Rate Sensors (6aω Configuration)." ASME. J Biomech Eng. November 2011; 133(11): 111007. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4005427
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