Biomechanics of Temporo-Parietal Skull Fracture From Blunt Ballistic Impact

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Raymond ◽  
Greg S. Crawford ◽  
Chris A. Van Ee ◽  
Cynthia A. Bir
Keyword(s):  
Skull Fracture ◽  
Ballistic Impact ◽  
Minimal Risk ◽  
Small Surface ◽  
Human Skull ◽  
Ballistic Impacts ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Biomechanical Response ◽  
Strain Data ◽  
Fracture Tolerance

The majority of engineering studies that quantify the biomechanical tolerance of the human skull to blunt impacts have been focused primarily on replicating automotive-related trauma [1]. Relatively little biomechanical data exists on skull fracture tolerance due to impacts with small surface area objects moving at high velocity, previously defined as blunt, ballistic impacts [2]. These impacts can occur with the deployment of less-lethal kinetic energy munitions that are now available to police and military personnel. The goal of less-lethal munitions is to impart sufficient force to a subject to deter uncivil, or hazardous, behavior with minimal risk for serious or fatal injury. A basic understanding of human biomechanical response and tolerance to blunt ballistic impact is needed for all areas of the human body in order to guide the design of such munitions. Law enforcement are trained to direct such munitions away from the head and at body regions such as the legs, however impacts to the head have occurred [3]. Previous research efforts have investigated facial impact tolerance to blunt ballistic impacts [4] however data regarding the temporo-parietal region are lacking. The goal of this research project is to provide basic bone strain data on temporo-parietal skull fracture for the purpose of developing finite element models of the human skull and fracture criterion for future study of blunt ballistic head impact.

The Effect of Soft Tissue on the Biomechanics of Skull Fracture due to Blunt Ballistic Impact: Preliminary Analysis and Findings

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Raymond ◽  
Greg S. Crawford ◽  
Chris A. Van Ee ◽  
Cynthia A. Bir
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Skull Fracture ◽  
Human Head ◽  
Ballistic Impact ◽  
Impact Response ◽  
Parietal Region ◽  
Small Surface ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Biomechanical Response ◽  
Fracture Tolerance

The majority of engineering studies that quantify the biomechanical response of the human head to blunt impacts have been focused primarily on replicating automotive-related trauma [1]. Relatively little biomechanical data exists on head response and skull fracture tolerance due to impacts with small surface area objects moving at high velocity, as can occur with the deployment of less-lethal kinetic energy munitions that are now available to police and military personnel. Law enforcement are trained to direct such munitions away from the head and at body regions least likely to sustain serious to life-threatening injury, such as the legs, however impacts to vital regions such as the head have occurred [2]. Previous research efforts have investigated facial impact response to blunt ballistic impacts however data regarding the temporo-parietal region are lacking and require study under these unique loading conditions [3]. Prior research has indicated that the scalp and soft tissue covering the skull are important factors to consider when studying impact response and skull fracture tolerance [4]. These data however have been limited primarily to impact velocities typical of the automotive crash environment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the contribution of soft tissue to the biomechanical response and tolerance of the temporo-parietal region under blunt ballistic impact conditions.

Development of Biomechanical Response Corridors of the Head to Blunt Ballistic Temporo-Parietal Impact

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Raymond ◽  
Greg Crawford ◽  
Chris Van Ee ◽  
Cynthia Bir
Keyword(s):  
Head Impact ◽  
Ballistic Impact ◽  
Peak Force ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Parietal Region ◽  
Impact Studies ◽  
Time Deformation ◽  
Impact Condition ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Biomechanical Response

There is a need to study the biomechanical response of the head to blunt ballistic impact. While the frequency of less-lethal munition impacts to the head may be less than other vital body regions, more serious injuries have been attributed to these impacts. This study aims to establish biomechanical response corridors for the temporo-parietal region for future development of biomechanical surrogate devices. Seven unembalmed post-mortem human subject specimens were exposed to blunt ballistic temporo-parietal head impact (103 g, 38 mm diameter impactor) to determine the force-time, deformation-time, and force-deformation responses. Comparisons were made to responses from prior blunt ballistic head impact studies, as well as automotive-related impact studies. Peak forces for impact condition A (19.5±2.6 m/s) were 3659±1248 N with deformations at peak force of 7.3±2.1 mm. Peak forces for impact condition B (33.6±1.4 m/s) were 5809±1874 N with deformations at peak force of 9.9±2.6 mm. Seven fractures were produced in the seven specimens. Depressed comminuted fracture types were documented in six of the seven cases. The average stiffness of the temporo-parietal region under blunt ballistic impact was 0.46±0.14 kN/mm. Stiffness results indicate that the response of the temporo-parietal region is similar to the forehead under blunt ballistic loading conditions. In addition, the response is significantly less stiff when compared with temporo-parietal impacts performed in automotive-related studies. These data provide the foundation for future research in the area of blunt ballistic head impact research including the development of biomechanical surrogates and computational models.

scholarly journals Engineering Aspects of Human Skull Fracture

1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (0) ◽  
pp. 46-65
Author(s):  
Hideaki MASUZAWA ◽  
Kimiyoshi HIRAKAWA ◽  
Norio NAKAMURA ◽  
Keiji SANO ◽  
Masatomo KIHIRA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skull Fracture ◽  
Human Skull

Modeling of Advanced Combat Helmet Under Ballistic Impact

2015 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Q. Li ◽  
X. G. Li ◽  
X.-L. Gao
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Time History ◽  
Ballistic Impact ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Lateral Impact ◽  
Ballistic Performance ◽  
Ballistic Impacts ◽  
Large Size ◽  
History Of ◽  
Head Form

The use of combat helmets has greatly reduced penetrating injuries and saved lives of many soldiers. However, behind helmet blunt trauma (BHBT) has emerged as a serious injury type experienced by soldiers in battlefields. BHBT results from nonpenetrating ballistic impacts and is often associated with helmet back face deformation (BFD). In the current study, a finite element-based computational model is developed for simulating the ballistic performance of the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH), which is validated against the experimental data obtained at the Army Research Laboratory. Both the maximum value and time history of the BFD are considered, unlike existing studies focusing on the maximum BFD only. The simulation results show that the maximum BFD, the time history of the BFD, and the shape and size of the effective area of the helmet shell agree fairly well with the experimental findings. In addition, it is found that ballistic impacts on the helmet at different locations and in different directions result in different BFD values. The largest BFD value is obtained for a frontal impact, which is followed by that for a crown impact and then by that for a lateral impact. Also, the BFD value is seen to decrease as the oblique impact angle decreases. Furthermore, helmets of four different sizes—extra large, large, medium, and small—are simulated and compared. It is shown that at the same bullet impact velocity the small-size helmet has the largest BFD, which is followed by the medium-size helmet, then by the large-size helmet, and finally by the extra large-size helmet. Moreover, ballistic impact simulations are performed for an ACH placed on a ballistic dummy head form embedded with clay as specified in the current ACH testing standard by using the validated helmet model. It is observed that the BFD values as recorded by the clay in the head form are in good agreement with the experimental data.

Effect of ballistic impacts on batteries and the potential for injury

2019 ◽  
Vol 166 (5) ◽  
pp. 330-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Rabbitt ◽  
I Horsfall ◽  
D J Carr
Keyword(s):  
Impact Damage ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Ballistic Impact ◽  
The Body ◽  
Li Ion Batteries ◽  
Military Operations ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Ballistic Impacts ◽  
Body Armour ◽  
Li Ion

IntroductionOn military operations, ballistic impact damage is possible to lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries worn on the body by military personnel and the potential for exothermic reactions may result in injury. This paper investigated the effect of impact on batteries that might be worn in front or behind body armour.MethodsLi-ion batteries were subjected to ballistic impact both without and in combination with body armour using 7.62×39 mm ammunition (mean velocity=769 m/s) at charge levels up to 40%. The effect of penetrating impacts on charged batteries was also investigated using an outdoor range.ResultsThe backface signature due to ballistic impact was reduced by including a battery pack between fabric body armour and an armour plate, however the batteries were crushed and mechanically disrupted. Ballistic impacts on batteries mounted in front of an armour plate resulted in perforation of the batteries. Increases in temperature, fire and toxic gas emission were noted when batteries were penetrated by an impact.ConclusionsBatteries provided limited ballistic protection disproving the hypothesis that batteries could replace or enhance existing body armour solutions. Ballistic impact of charged batteries could lead to injury due to heat/flame and toxic discharge. It is recommended that batteries need to be carried in a position from which they can be rapidly removed from contact with the body.

scholarly journals Numerical simulation of GLARE 4A fiber-metal laminates subjected to ballistic impact

2018 ◽  
Vol 188 ◽  
pp. 01017
Author(s):  
George Bikakis ◽  
Nikolaos Tsigkros ◽  
Emilios Sideridis ◽  
Alexander Savaidis
Keyword(s):  
Impact Load ◽  
Impact Damage ◽  
Impact Resistance ◽  
Time History ◽  
Ballistic Impact ◽  
Fiber Metal Laminates ◽  
Ballistic Impacts ◽  
Fiber Metal ◽  
Force Time ◽  
The Impact

This article deals with the evaluation of the ballistic resistance of GLARE 4A fiber-metal laminates subjected to high velocity impact by a cylindrical projectile. Important impact variables such as the ballistic limit, the impact load and the absorbed energy time histories are predicted using the ANSYS LS-DYNA software. The simultaneous existence of various impact damage mechanisms, which is unique in fiber-metal laminates, is demonstrated using the numerical results. Each of the mechanisms absorbs a part of the initial impact energy and contributes to the high ballistic impact resistance the materials. With reference to the considered GLARE 4A panels, the behavior of the transient impact load is analyzed and useful conclusions are drawn. It is found that the maximum impact load is applied at the beginning of ballistic impacts, during the initial local indentation of the panels under the projectile. It is substantially higher than the following peak values of the impact force time history. It is revealed that during the beginning of ballistic impacts, the impulse of the collision increases as the thickness of the panels is increased. The work done by the impact load during the local indentation stage is also an increasing function of the panels’ thickness.

scholarly journals Dynamic Impact Surface Damage Analysis of 3D Woven Para-Aramid Armour Panels Using NDI Technique

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 877
Author(s):  
Mulat Alubel Abtew ◽  
Francois Boussu ◽  
Pascal Bruniaux ◽  
Yan Hong
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Surface Damage ◽  
Ballistic Impact ◽  
Woven Fabric ◽  
Warp Yarn ◽  
Ballistic Impacts ◽  
Impact Surface ◽  
National Institute Of Justice ◽  
Nondestructive Investigation

The effects of the yarn composition system inside 3D woven high-performance textiles are not well investigated and understood against their final ballistic impact behaviour. The current study aims to examine the ballistic impact performances of armour panels made of different 3D woven fabric variants through postmortem observations. Four high-performance five-layer 3D woven fabric variants were engineered based on their different warp yarn compositions but similar area density. A 50 × 50 cm2 armour system of each variant, which comprises eight nonbonded but aligned panels, namely, 3D-40-8/0 (or 8/0), 3D-40-8/4 (or 8/4), 3D-40-8/8 (or 8/8) and 3D-40-4/8 (or 4/8), were prepared and moulded to resemble female frontal morphology. The armour systems were then tested with nonperforation ballistic impacts according to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) 0101.06 standard Level-IIIA. Two high-speed cameras were used to capture the event throughout the test. Nondestructive investigation (NDI) using optical microscopic and stereoscopic 3D digital images were employed for the analysis. The armour panels made of the 8/0 and 4/8 fabric variants were perforated, whereas the armour made of the 8/8 and 8/4 fabric variants showed no perforation. Besides, the armour made of the 8/4 fabric variant revealed higher local and global surface displacements than the other armours. The current research findings are useful for further engineering of 3D woven fabric for seamless women’s impact protective clothing.

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