Virginia Tech
    • Log in
    View Item 
    •   VTechWorks Home
    • ETDs: Virginia Tech Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Masters Theses
    • View Item
    •   VTechWorks Home
    • ETDs: Virginia Tech Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Masters Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Head Acceleration Measurements in Helmet-Helmet Impacts and the Youth Population

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Daniel_RW_T_2012.pdf (4.938Mb)
    Downloads: 573
    Date
    2012-04-16
    Author
    Daniel, Ray
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    The research presented herein is an analysis of acceleration measurements of the head during helmet-helmet impacts, where a player's helmet impacts another player's helmet, and with a youth population in football. This research is aimed at advancing current understanding of impact biomechanics for two specialized groups. The first study is an observational analysis focusing on helmet-helmet impacts, and the difference in effective mass and head acceleration measurements between the striking player and the struck player. The study involved working with football players outfitted with a sensor integrated into their helmets containing a 6 accelerometer array, capable of measuring linear accelerations and estimating angular accelerations. To evaluate helmet-helmet impacts, video analysis of past NCAA football competitions between Virginia Tech and University of North Carolina (UNC) were utilized to identify these impacts between instrumented players. A force balance was then carried out for the observed impacts and their respective acceleration measurements to compute the effective mass of the players. It was determined that the total mass recruited by the striking player was 28% to 77% more than that of the struck player. The second study focused on documenting the head impact biomechanics of a youth population. To accomplish this objective, unique accelerometer arrays, capable of measuring linear and angular accelerations, were integrated into existing youth football helmets for 7 players on a local team. Acceleration data were collected for every practice and game during the 2011 season to amass a total of 748 impacts. No instrumented player sustained a concussion during the 2011 season. Results of the study indicated impacts of greater magnitudes were more likely to occur in practices, and can be minimized by augmenting practice activities.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10919/32063
    Collections
    • Masters Theses [21540]

    If you believe that any material in VTechWorks should be removed, please see our policy and procedure for Requesting that Material be Amended or Removed. All takedown requests will be promptly acknowledged and investigated.

    Virginia Tech | University Libraries | Contact Us
     

     

    VTechWorks

    AboutPoliciesHelp

    Browse

    All of VTechWorksCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    Log inRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    If you believe that any material in VTechWorks should be removed, please see our policy and procedure for Requesting that Material be Amended or Removed. All takedown requests will be promptly acknowledged and investigated.

    Virginia Tech | University Libraries | Contact Us