Comparison between Hybrid III and Hodgson–WSU headforms by linear and angular dynamic impact response

Abstract
In brain injury research, linear and angular resultant acceleration data have been considered important mechanisms contributing to various levels of brain injury. The development of biofidelic headforms with similar dimensions and weight to that of a real human head has allowed for researchers to repeatedly collect data related to the effects of different impacts on the human head. Currently, there are different types of headforms available for impact testing, each with varying degrees of biofidelity and repeatability. Two commonly used headforms were tested: the Hybrid III and the Hodgson–WSU (NOCSAE). The two headforms were outfitted with nine single-axis accelerometers positioned orthogonally following a 3–2–2–2 array. Both headforms show good linearity and correlate well throughout the different velocities and are, therefore, reliable tools. Significant differences are observed in peak linear and peak angular accelerations between Hybrid III and Hodgson–WSU headforms. The shapes of the loading curves are visually different and thus may have significant impact on the output from FE modelling of the brain response.