Finite element simulations of the head-brain responses to the top impacts of a construction helmet: effects of the neck and body mass

Details

• Personal Author:
  Pan, Christopher S. ; Rosen CL ; Wimer BM ; Wu, John Z.
• Description:
  Traumatic brain injuries are among the most common severely disabling injuries in the United States. Construction helmets are considered essential personal protective equipment for reducing traumatic brain injury risks at work sites. In this study, we proposed a practical finite element modeling approach that would be suitable for engineers to optimize construction helmet design. The finite element model includes all essential anatomical structures of a human head (i.e. skin, scalp, skull, cerebrospinal fluid, brain, medulla, spinal cord, cervical vertebrae, and discs) and all major engineering components of a construction helmet (i.e. shell and suspension system). The head finite element model has been calibrated using the experimental data in the literature. It is technically difficult to precisely account for the effects of the neck and body mass on the dynamic responses, because the finite element model does not include the entire human body. An approximation approach has been developed to account for the effects of the neck and body mass on the dynamic responses of the head-brain. Using the proposed model, we have calculated the responses of the head-brain during a top impact when wearing a construction helmet. The proposed modeling approach would provide a tool to improve the helmet design on a biomechanical basis. Keywords Finite element analysis, brain injury, helmet design, soft tissue mechanics Date received: 15 March 2016; accepted: 20 September 2016 Introduction Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most common severely disabling injuries in the United States. During 2002-2006, approximately 1.7 million cases occurred in civilians annually.1 A total of 7294 work-related TBI fatalities were identified during 2003-2008, which accounted for 22% of all occupational injury fatalities.2 Among the leading causes of work-related TBI death, falls and contact with objects/equipment occupied 47%.2 The work-related TBI fatalities due to fall or contact with objects may potentially be reduced using proper helmets. The finite element (FE) method has been widely used to understand the injury mechanism of TBI.3 In order for the FE method to generate reliable simulations, the models must include realistic geometries, reliable material properties, and physiological boundary/loading conditions of the biological systems. Over the last three decades, tremendous progress has been made in the development of FE models in the investigation [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Environmental Exposure Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Finite Element Analysis Brain Damage Brain Disorders Brain Function Brain Injury Construction Construction Equipment Construction Workers Exposure Levels Head Injuries Head Protective Equipment Helmet Design Injuries Models Personal Protective Equipment Risk Factors Soft Tissue Mechanics Traumatic Injuries

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• ISSN:
  0954-4119
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division ; DSR - Division of Safety Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  58-68
• Volume:
  231
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049110
• Citation:
  Proc Inst Mech Eng H 2017 Jan; 231(1):58-68
• Contact Point Address:
  Christopher S Pan, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  cpan@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of Engineering in Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9369574fa81da9611c2672d7a30fae5cc9a038f792ab6f64158d452d32dd063cf9c6b16f53ba9751e7ea570197550b2c523e11b74164443502a8a0ce850fdd46
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/203678/cdc_203678_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.88 MB ]