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Acta Armamentarii ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (8): 241022-.doi: 10.12382/bgxb.2024.1022

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A Human Head Finite Element Model for Blunt Ballistic Impact Injury Assessment

CHEN Bin1,2, WANG Song2,*(), LIU Xingyu2, ZHANG Zhaohui1,2, LI Wuyang1,2   

  1. 1. Graduate Regiment, Engineering University of Armed Police Force of China, Xi'an 710086,Shaanxi, China
    2. School of Equipment Management and Support, Engineering University of Armed Police Force of China, Xi'an 710086, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2024-11-12 Online:2025-08-28
  • Contact: WANG Song

Abstract:

In order to clarify the injury mechanism of human head under blunt ballistic impact,a finite element model fitting the characteristics of Chinese 50th percentile male adult heads is constructed by the material parameter optimization,proportional scaling and fluid-structure interaction methods based on the total human model for safety (THUMS) model.LS-DYNA (Livermore software technology corporation's dynamic analyzer) is taken as a simulation platform,and the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian algorithm is used to define the fluid characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid,optimize the elastic-plastic material parameters of skull and brain tissue,and realize the localization of head size and anatomical structure through mesh deformation technology.The biomechanical response of the model is verified by comparing the data of Nahum cadaver experiment and THUMS model for the typical vulnerable parts,such as forehead,parietal wall,occipital and posterior fossa,of human body.The results show that the peak values of intracranial pressure in the vulnerable area of the improved model are 150kPa,75kPa,53kPa and 69kPa,respectively,and the error between the improved model and the experimental data is 4%-10%,and the shape of the dynamic response curve is consistent.The maximum von Mises stress of brain tissue (29.5kPa) and the principal stress of skull (18.7kPa) are close to the threshold of Marjoux and Yoganandan simulation experiment,which verifies that the proposed model could effectively predict the risk of craniocerebral injury.The assessment based on NATO AEP-103 standard indicates that the peak value of the forehead intracranial pressure under typical impact is 511.1kPa,far exceeding the threshold of skull fracture (150kPa),which highlights the optimization needs of existing protective equipment.The proposed model has strong applicability and can provide reference and theoretical support for head injury assessment and safety protection under blunt ballistic impact.

Key words: blunt ballistic impact, human head finite element model, fluid-structure interaction, injury assessment, biomechanical response

CLC Number: