An Algorithm for Determining the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) from Records of Head Acceleration

An algorithm for calculating the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) from a digital record of the resultant head acceleration of a dummy used in impact testing is described. A result from Chou and Nyquist (1) is used to establish a procedure for searching the range of time intervals within the acceleration pulse which should guarantee finding the true HIC. A second result from the same authors is used to make the search far more efficient for most head acceleration records. The algorithm is implemented in a simple way which does not require curve-fitting or interpolation between the data points. This algorithm, implemented as a computer program, has been tested with head acceleration records from impact tests with dummies and some results are given.

1. C. C. Chou and G. W. Nyquist, “Analytical Studies of the Head Injury Criterion.” Society of Automotive Engineers, Automotive Engineering Congress, Detroit, MI, U. S. A., Feb, 1974. (SAE Paper No. 740082)