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Finite Element Analysis for the evaluation of children brain injuries in Judo throws

Flaminia Perino

Finite Element Analysis for the evaluation of children brain injuries in Judo throws.

Rel. Laura Gastaldi, Alessandro Scattina, Valeria Rosso, Stefano Paolo Pastorelli. Politecnico di Torino, Corso di laurea magistrale in Ingegneria Meccanica (Mechanical Engineering), 2021

Abstract:

One of the main issues in sport science is injury prevention. This can be achieved with observational studies or instrumented motion analysis. However, there are some cases in which limitations occur and direct measurements cannot be made. The study of brain injuries sees these constraints where the only measurable parameter is the kinematics of the head. These limitations have made the finite element analysis (FEA) an important tool used in many applications: the simulations with the finite element method (FEM) and the use of human body models are used to study stress and strain. This thesis work aims to study and analyze the risk of head injuries in the practice of judo, focusing on young athletes. Starting from a previous laboratory study, the experimental data of linear acceleration and angular velocity, measured using an inertial sensor positioned on the forehead, have been used. Ten non-agonist children with low experience levels are selected. Through the finite element analysis (FEA), the kinematics experienced by the head when performing four different judo throws have been simulated using the scalable PIPER human body model. The predictors chosen to study the brain response are Von Mises stress, pressure, and maximal principal strain. The evolution of the indices has been analyzed both in time and in space. Results show that the magnitude of the indices seems to be related to the magnitude of acceleration and velocity, but there are some differences attributable to the inexperience of the children and the attention to perform the projections safely. Furthermore, the most stressed regions of the brain are placed near the interfaces between the different brain materials and the two cerebral hemispheres.

Relatori: Laura Gastaldi, Alessandro Scattina, Valeria Rosso, Stefano Paolo Pastorelli
Anno accademico: 2020/21
Tipo di pubblicazione: Elettronica
Numero di pagine: 233
Informazioni aggiuntive: Tesi secretata. Fulltext non presente
Soggetti:
Corso di laurea: Corso di laurea magistrale in Ingegneria Meccanica (Mechanical Engineering)
Classe di laurea: Nuovo ordinamento > Laurea magistrale > LM-33 - INGEGNERIA MECCANICA
Aziende collaboratrici: NON SPECIFICATO
URI: http://webthesis.biblio.polito.it/id/eprint/20694
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