Modelling and specifications for an improved helmet design (EWT.3723)

The objective of the proposed project is to develop specifications for an improved helmet design and to formulate guidelines for improving the headforms, used in helmet tests, as well as the testing procedures in order to obtain from these tests more relevant and reliable information about the protective capacity of helmets. To achieve this, insight into the basic (bio)mechanical processes involved in helmeted head impact must be available. This insight will be obtained from a validated mathematical model of a helmeted head in which the interactions between a striking object, the helmet and the head are explicitly taken into account.
Currently a numerical model of the human head under extreme loading conditions is being developed to study head injury mechanisms. This model is partially validated against experimental data reported in literature. For additional validation of this model, in the proposed project an instrumented physical model of the human head will be developed, providing the means to measure distributions of field parameters (pressure, strain, stress) as well as accelerations and impact forces. The guidelines relating to the headforms and the testing procedures will be formulated on the basis of the validation experiments with the physical model. The validated numerical head model will be extended with a helmet model, whereby the interactions between helmet and head will be explicitly taken into account, to assess the (bio)mechanical processes involved in helmeted head impact. The specifica tions for an improved helmet design will be derived from simulation results obtained with this model.

Twee bedrijven en vier non-profit organisaties zijn bij dit project betrokken.

Dr.ir. A.A.H.J. Sauren
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
Faculteit Werktuigbouwkunde
Vakgroep Fundamentele Werktuigbouwkunde
Postbus 513
5600 MB EINDHOVEN.