This study details an original evaluation method for head-neck system models for side and oblique impact scenarios with small impact energies. In the literature, human neck models are often validated against corridors established in the time domain (inter alia [1] and [2]). This method is of limited precision for the characterization of multi degree-of-freedom systems for impact simulation purpose. Each validation corridor is linked to one specific impact scenario only:​ the models’ biofidelity depends strongly on the scenario. In order to gain a more proper identification we suggest completing a validation with the presented approach. It is based in the frequency domain and deals with modal parameters of volunteers and models. Methodology and three evaluations of head-neck models are detailed. There will be no discussion about time domain methods given but we state clearly the importance of time domain validation.

Results of the study are the similarity of the modal characteristics of the tested subjects, the demonstration of linear behaviour for small impact energies and the data of the evaluation of the three models. To the authors knowledge it is the first study that provides experimental and numerical modal analysis techniques in order to validate the lateral and rotational characteristics of head-neck models.