The objective of this study was to compare the coupling of ear-mounted accelerometers with the head during moderate rate and high rate impacts. Impact tests were performed on PMHS equipped with ear-mounted accelerometers and head-mounted accelerometers using a drop tower and a shock tube. Peak head impacts ranged from 130 -350g’s for drop tests, and 380-3150g’s for shock tube tests. Peak acceleration and HIC values were well correlated between sensors (R2 = 0.87 and 0.76 respectively), an improvement attributed to sensor positioning within the bony canal. A model based on the drop tower data predicted the ear sensor response to within 15% of initial peak measured acceleration.
Keywords:
accelerations; cadavers; drop tests; HIC; instruments