Experimental analysis of the vibrational characteristics of the human skull

Abstract

Analytical models of the human skull structure have generally been constructed so as to characterize the gross geometric features and material properties; however, a model should also have accurate frequency response characteristics since these are essential for collision and head injury analyses. An experimental investigation was conducted to identify the dynamic characteristics of freely vibrating human skulls. Resonant frequencies and associated mode shapes in the frequency band from 20 Hz to 5000 Hz were delineated for two dry human skulls. Osteometrically, one skull corresponds to a 50th percentile male (skull 1) and the second is representative of a 5th percentile female skull (skull 2). Digital Fourier analysis techniques were used to identify the resonant frequencies and corresponding mode shapes of each skull. Eleven resonant frequencies were identified for skull 1, with the lowest being 1385 Hz. In contrast, skull 2 exhibited only 6 resonant frequencies with the first being 1641 Hz. Nine mode shapes were identified for skull 1, but only 5 modes were recognized for skull 2. The vibrational pattern of the human skull, as indicated by its mode shapes in this limited study, seems to be a unique property of a particular skull. Skull satures did not appear to influence the modal pattern.