The goal of this MQP was to create a neck and head test fixture to assess the relationship between neck strength and concussion prevalence. The fixture was created primarily out of steel and consisted of a tensioning cable through alternating rubber and aluminum disks which was tensioned to simulate various neck strengths. Data was collected using an Arduino and two AXDL 377 accelerometers placed inside the head of the fixture. Microsoft Excel converted the raw acceleration data to a HIC value, a common metric used for predicting concussions. HIC values were compared across varying neck strengths to determine the correlation between neck strength and concussions. Through 70 trials, we found that HIC values are 5.9 percent higher for females than males when subjected to the same impact.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Bigham, Karly
• Holman, Mitchell Dean
• Hanlon, Thomas L.
• Gilbert, Abigail L.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-040420-203747

Advisor

• Savilonis, Brian James

Year

• 2020

Date created

• 2020-04-04

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright