Comparison of the hybrid II and hybrid III ATD head-neck responses using the HIC component testing device
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Abstract
The Head Injury Criterion (HIC) is an injury model which measures the likelihood of head injury resulting from a dynamic impact or collision. This injury model is included in regulations held by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Additionally, HIC has been used greatly in research concerning head injury throughout a dynamic event, such as the research of several groups using the HIC Component Testing Device (HCTD). The HCTD is a device which utilizes a Hybrid II Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) head-neck system to recreate a similar motion and loading profile to what can be typically seen by crash sled test data of a fully assembled ATD enduring a dynamic event. For use of the HCTD, an ATD head-neck is attached to a pendulum arm which rotates around a revolute joint. Being propelled forward by means of a pneumatic piston, the head-neck undergoes a motion similar to the head motion associated with crash sled testing. Due to this simplification, overall ATD motion can be closely replicated between test iterations. This research seeks to explore the applications of the HCTD through a series of rigid bulkhead impacts. Through attachment of the Hybrid III head-neck to the HCTD pendulum arm, the Hybrid II and Hybrid III head-neck responses are compared through a variety of conditions, where multiple head velocities and bulkhead distances are utilized to initiate varying behaviors. Kinematic head paths are plotted, and head acceleration data is used to calculate the HIC values for comparison. Additionally, an upper neck load cell is utilized for the Hybrid III to measure neck forces and moments at the occipital condyle region during impact. These forces and moments are utilized to calculate additional injury models such as Nij and peak neck compression, tension, flexion, extension, and shear. The results of this study compare common injury mechanisms between the two ATD types and demonstrate the Hybrid III’s exceptional head-neck response.

