Quantitative assessment of brain injury and concussion induced by an unintentional soccer ball impact

•A quantitative assessment of brain injury and concussion induced by an unintentional soccer ball impact with different speeds and impact locations were carried out.•Dynamic responses of intracranial pressure, Von-Mises stress, and first principal strain were investigated, the critical ball velocities resulting in concussions at different impact locations were evaluated.•A list of the minimum ball velocity thresholds resulting in concussions at different impact locations on head by a speedy soccer ball were produced, and the damaged regions resulting in impairments of brain functions and various potential clinical symptoms were located. Accidental impact on a player's head by a powerful soccer ball may lead to brain injuries and concussions during games. It is crucial to assess these injuries promptly and accurately on the field. However, it is challenging for referees, coaches, and even players themselves to accurately recognize potential injuries and concussions following such impacts. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a list of minimum ball velocity thresholds that can result in concussions at different impact locations on the head. Additionally, it is important to identify the affected brain regions responsible for impairments in brain function and potential clinical symptoms. By using a full human finite element model, dynamic responses and brain injuries caused by unintentional soccer ball impacts on six distinct head locations (forehead, tempus, crown, occiput, face, and jaw) at varying ball velocities (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 60 m/s) were simulated and investigated. Intracranial pressure, Von-Mises stress, and first principal strain were analyzed, the ball velocity thresholds resulting in concussions at different impact locations were evaluated, and the damage evolution patterns in the brain tissue were analyzed. The impact on the occiput is most susceptible to induce brain injuries compared to all other impact locations. For a conservative assessment, the risk of concussion is present once the soccer ball reaches 17.2 m/s in a frontal impact, 16.6 m/s in a parietal impact, 14.0 m/s in an occipital impact, 17.8 m/s in a temporal impact, 18.5 m/s in a facial impact or 19.2 m/s in a mandibular impact. The brain exhibits the most significant dynamic responses during the initial 10–20 ms, and the damaged regions are primarily concentrated in the medial temporal lobe and the corpus callosum, potentially causing impairments in brain functio