Finite Element Modeling of an Innovative Headband : A study about the headband design and its safety properties

Abstract: One of the most recent challenges faced worldwide is the so-called “ageing population” phenomenon. Besides the disabilities and illnesses that the elderly is prone to, traumatic brain injuries represent a common and potentially fatal factor that greatly affects this population. Other subjects are however also likely to experience traumatic brain injuries i.e. people affected by some kinds of diseases and disorders such as epilepsy and dementia that are known to have a high risk of falling. Furthermore, sports accidents can also lead to traumatic brain injuries, for example cycling. Current solutions and devices for head injury prevention are limited and from a design point of view there is space for improvements. The focus of this master thesis is to model an innovative headband meant to be worn around the scalp during various daily life activities and in multiple situations. Its function is to prevent the wearer from traumatic brain injuries. The headband model is a finite element model, created in LS-PrePost. Subsequently, simulations are performed in LS-Dyna to replicate real life head impact scenarios. Different parameters and features of both the impacting condition and the headband are tested for creating the optimal headband structure for head injury prevention.