Development of Silicone Elastomer for Use in the Assessment of Padded Clothing in Rugby Union

Hughes, Angus; Driscoll, Heather; Carré, Matt

doi:10.3390/proceedings2020049077

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The blend was thoroughly mixed and fully degassed before being poured into rectangular moulds (200 × 150 mm). Its compressive properties matched that of Porcine muscle tissue, with previous research [12] outlining how this was achieved. The skin layer was made from synthetic chamois (2 mm) cross-woven polyvinyl acetate (PVA) (KCIC200, Kent Car Care, Manchester, UK) due to its similar penetration resistance to the skin as found in previous studies [13,20,24].…”

Section: Design Of Rigsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…Their use in the impact testing domains to assess the ability of injury preventative measures (i.e., shoulder padding) is also prevalent [8,10]. Silicone elastomers have been used in the past to represent human soft tissue structures (muscle, adipose) because of their similarities in density, response to load, and repeatability [11,12]. Synthetic chamois leather has previously been used as a cost-effective method of simulating the skin in impact testing environments due to its similar penetration resistance properties [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Padded rugby clothing to prevent laceration and abrasion injuries from stud raking: a method of assessment

et al. 2022

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Padded clothing (shoulder padding) is worn in Rugby Union to give players an opportunity to protect themselves. A performance specification for padded clothing has been set out by World Rugby™, with the intention that padded clothing only protects against lacerations and abrasions. Test protocols in this specification provide an assessment of the impact force attenuative properties of the material, this itself will not indicate what injuries they may have the potential to prevent or lessen the severity of. The current study has used previously established biomechanical parameters to develop a mechanical test procedure to assess the ability of padded clothing to prevent or lessen the severity of stud-induced laceration and abrasion injuries. A synthetic skin and soft tissue surrogate was developed and validated to mimic human anatomy. Without the addition of padded clothing, both wearing (abrasion) and tearing (laceration) of the synthetic tissue surrogate were seen. The addition of padded clothing saw no sign of stud-induced injury, even after six repeated trials of the same product, showing padded clothing can prevent or lessen the severity of lacerations and abrasions. The developed testing protocols could be used to assess the safety of any sports stud designs in relation to skin injury as well as the effectiveness of various protective clothing products across the sports industry.

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Section: Design Of Rigsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Padded rugby clothing to prevent laceration and abrasion injuries from stud raking: a method of assessment

et al. 2022

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“…Four cylindrical samples of the silicone formulation used to mimic relaxed muscle tissue [7] were moulded for quasistatic and stress relaxation compression testing. These samples had a diameter of 29 mm and a height of 12.5 mm, as reported previously [4] and as per ASTM D395 [27].…”

Section: Sample Preparation and Density Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using a more biofidelic anvil [3,5,6] could help improve our understanding of how rugby padding might perform during impact when worn by a player. Indeed, Hughes et al [7] developed a relaxed muscle simulant (by mixing silicones) for assessing the ability of rugby body padding to prevent injury. In recent work investigating raking injuries from studs, Hughes et al [8] covered the muscle simulant with a layer of synthetic chamois leather to represent skin [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The aim of this paper was to develop an FE model to simulate impact tests on an anvil that was more biofidelic than the current metal one in WR-BPPS. The anvil consisted of a metal hemicylindrical core covered with the silicone reported by Hughes et al [7,8] and a synthetic chamois leather to mimic skin [9,10]. An initial stage in developing such an FE model was to identify a suitable material model for predicting the impact response of the silicone.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Finite element model to simulate impact on a soft tissue simulant

et al. 2023

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A finite element model of an impact test on a soft tissue simulant, used as part of a shoulder surrogate, was developed in Ansys© LS-DYNA®. The surrogate consisted of a metal hemicylindrical core, with a diameter of 75 mm, covered with a 15 mm thick relaxed muscle simulant. The muscle simulant consisted of a 14 mm thick layer of silicone covered with 1 mm thick chamois leather to represent skin. The material properties of the silicone were obtained via quasi-static compression testing (curve fit with hyperelastic models) and compressive stress relaxation testing (curve fit with a Prony series). Outputs of the finite element models were compared against experimental data from impact tests on the shoulder surrogate at energies of 4.9, 9.8 and 14.7 J. The accuracy of the finite element models was assessed using four parameters: peak impact force, maximum deformation, impact duration and impulse. A 5-parameter Mooney-Rivlin material model combined with a 2-term Prony series was found to be suitable for modelling the soft tissue simulant of the shoulder surrogate. This model had under 10% overall mean deviation from the experimental values for the four assessment parameters across the three impact energies. Overall, the model provided a repeatable test method that can be adapted to help predict injuries to skin tissue and the performance/efficacy of personal protective equipment.

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A finite element model for predicting impact-induced damage to a skin simulant

Imam,

Hughes,

Carré

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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A finite element model was developed for assessing the efficacy of rugby body padding in reducing the risk of sustaining cuts and abrasions. The model was developed to predict the onset of damage to a soft tissue simulant from concentrated impact loading (i.e., stud impact) and compared against a corresponding experiment. The damage modelling techniques involved defining an element deletion criterion, whereby those on the surface of the surrogate were deleted if their maximum principal stress reached a predefined value. Candidate maximum principal stress values for element deletion criteria were identified independently from puncture test simulations on the soft tissue simulant. Experimental impacts with a stud were carried out at three energies (2, 4 and 6 J), at three angular orientations (0°, 15° and 30°) and compared to corresponding simulations. Suitable maximum principal stress values for element deletion criteria settings were first identified for the 4 J impact, selecting the candidates that best matched the experimental results. The same element deletion settings were then applied in simulations at 2 and 6 J and the validity of the model was further assessed (difference < 15% for the force at tear and < 30% for time to tear). The damage modelling techniques presented here could be applied to other skin simulants to assess the onset of skin injuries and the ability of padding to prevent them.

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Development of Silicone Elastomer for Use in the Assessment of Padded Clothing in Rugby Union

Cited by 5 publications

References 9 publications

Padded rugby clothing to prevent laceration and abrasion injuries from stud raking: a method of assessment

Padded rugby clothing to prevent laceration and abrasion injuries from stud raking: a method of assessment

Finite element model to simulate impact on a soft tissue simulant

A finite element model for predicting impact-induced damage to a skin simulant

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