Helmets: a new look at design and possible protection

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Hopes, P. D.¹; Chinn, B. P.¹

Helmets: a new look at design and possible protection

Proceedings of the 1989 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact

Affiliations

¹Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berks, U.K.
Abstract

The paper sets out to show that by considering the requirements of a motorcycle crash helmet from first principles short comings in existing designs become apparent. Results were obtained from 150 drop tests of instrumented head forms in helmets under controlled conditions. The performance-of practical helmets is compared with the protection that would be provided if the available space could be fully utilised for energy absorption as predicted by applying equations of motion to an accepted injury criterion. H.I.C. is used as the initial criterion but alternative methods of predicting brain injury are discussed and their underlying principles examined. Choice of present helmet materials and the current British Standard test procedure are examined.

Cited Works (11)

Year	Entry
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1986	Newman JA. A generalized acceleration model for brain injury threshold (GAMBIT). In: Proceedings of the 1986 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 2-4, 1986; Zurich, Switzerland.121-131.
1984	Chapon A, Dedoyan A, Verriest J-P. Intra-cranial injuries associated with unconsciousness in two-wheeler accidents. In: Proceedings of the 1984 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 4-6, 1984; Delft, The Netherlands.111-127.
1975	Newman JA. On the use of the head injury criterion (HIC) in protective headgear evaluation. In: Proceedings of the 19th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 17-19, 1975; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:615-640. SAE 751162.
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Cited By (10)

Year	Entry
2015	Newman JA. Design and testing of sports helmets: biomechanical and practical considerations. In: Yoganandan N, Nahum AM, Melvin JW, eds. Accidental Injury: Biomechanics and Prevention. 3rd ed. New York: Springer; 2015:755-768.
1990	Mills NJ, Gilchrist A. The effectiveness of foams in bicycle & motorcycle helmets. In: 34th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 1-3, 1990; Scottsdale, AZ.391-404.
1994	Bly PH; EEVC Ad-Hoc Group on Motorcycle Safety. A review of motorcycle safety. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 23-26, 1994; Munich, Germany.1211-1220.
1990	Hopes PD, Chinn BP. The correlation of damage to crash helmets with injury, and the implications for injury tolerance criteria. In: Proceedings of the 1990 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 12-14, 1990; Lyon, France.319-331.
1993	Beusenberg MC, Happee R. An experimental evaluation of crash helmet design and effectiveness in standard impact tests. In: Proceedings of the 1993 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 8-10, 1993; Eindhoven, The Netherlands.307-323.
1994	Mitsuishi H, Ono K, Nishimoto T, Nakamura N. Present and future performance levels of head injury protection for motorcycle helmets: an attempt to search for better impact energy absorption property of helmets. In: Proceedings of the 1994 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 21-23, 1994; Lyon, France.259-270.
2005	Newman JA. The biomechanics of head trauma and the development of the modern helmet: how far have we really come? In: Proceedings of the 2005 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 21-23, 2005; Prague, Czech Republic.3-12.
2014	Newman JA. The road to understanding head protection: detours, potholes and speed bumps along the way. Stapp Car Crash J. November 2014;58:vii-ix.
2023	Juste Lorente Ó. Guidelines for Improving Motorcycle Helmet Testing Standards [PhD thesis]. Universidad de Zaragoza; February 2023.
1997	Smith TA. The Effect of Helmet Liner Density Upon Acceleration and Local Contact Forces During Bicycle Helmet Impacts [PhD thesis]. Los Angeles, CA: University of Southern California; December 1997.