Final report: Concussion simulation team

Abstract

The goal of this project was to design a mechanical device that can simulate concussion-like impacts on synthesized neural tissue and deliver it to the Chemical Engineering department so the department can conduct research on concussions. The project continued off the previous work done on this research project by chemical engineering and the project team tried to build a better device than the initial prototypes with large funding available from the sponsor. Deliverables at the start of the semester were set to me a fully assembled device constructed from different actuators and sensors and the system was to be built from scratch. The goal was to develop a system that uses a swing-hammer to mimic the concussion impacts on a specimen arm that contains the synthesized neural tissue. The rotational acceleration of the specimen arm was recorded to ensure that the arm behaves like the human head after a concussion impact. The whole system was meant to be automated and the data analysis was to be done using a friendly user-interface. The different parts needed to create the system were researched and bought. The final system was designed on Solidworks with modifications made throughout the semester to improve the assembly. Finally the design was constructed in the OSU Design and Manufacturing Lab and the parts were put together. The software/user-interface was not implemented as the project progress was slowed down due to unforeseen setbacks but that is something that will be completed early in the summer. Overall the device created met the sponsor's needs.