Human Head and Knee Tolerance to Localized Impacts

The results of recent dynamic load measurements on human skull and patella bone, conducted with less-than-1-sq-in. penetrators, are discussed in relation to previously reported skull impact data from larger contact areas. These medical data are compared to the dynamic response of a large variety of natural and synthetic plastic materials, for use in trauma-indicating headform and kneeform design. Several bodyform designs are proposed as research tools.