Non-perpendicular impacts: an experimental study on crash helmets

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Aldman, Bertil¹; Lundell, Björn¹; Thorngren, Lennart¹

Non-perpendicular impacts: an experimental study on crash helmets

Proceedings of the 1976 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact

Affiliations

¹Department of Traffic Safety, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
Abstract

In two-wheel vehicle accidents, the head of the occupant in many cases may hit the ground with a horizontal velocity. Due to friction this can result in angular accelerations 'of the head which may prove to be injury-producing.

A test method has been developed with the purpose to investigate the effect of different helmet shell materials on the kinematics of the head at impact.

The test device utilizes a dummy head and neck attached to a rail-guided freefalling carriage. Simulated road surfaces can be attached to a rotating disc. Linear and angular head accelerations in three perpendicular directions as well as rotation and lateral flexion of the neck have been recorded.

Results from a preliminary test series are presented with reference to some published tolerance levels.

Cited Works (3)

Year	Entry
1971	Ommaya AK, Hirsch AE. Tolerances for cerebral concussion from head impact and whiplash in primates. J Biomech. 1971;4(1):13-21.
1967	Ommaya AK, Yarnell P, Hirsch AE, Harris EH. Scaling of experimental data on cerebral concussion in sub-human primates to concussion threshold for man. In: Proceedings of the 11th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 10-11, 1967; Anaheim, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:73-80. SAE 670906.
1975	Ewing CL, Thomas DJ, Lustick L, Becker E, Willems G, Muzzy WH. The effect of the initial position of the head and neck on the dynamic response of the human head and neck to -Gx impact acceleration. In: Proceedings of the 19th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 17-19, 1975; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:487-512. SAE 751157.

Cited By (14)

Year	Entry
1985	European Experimental Vehicles Committee. Cycle and light-powered two-wheeler accidents. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). July 1-4, 1985; Oxford, England.1152-1206. SAE 856132.
1978	Aldman B, Lundell B, Thorngren L, Turbell T. Helmet attenuation of the head response in oblique impacts to the ground. In: Proceedings of the 1978 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 12-13, 1978; Lyon, France.118-128.
1978	Aldman B, Lundell B, Thorngren L. Oblique impacts: a parametric study in crash helmets. In: Proceedings of the 1978 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 12-13, 1978; Lyon, France.129-141.
2000	Hering AM, Derler S. Motorcycle helmet drop tests using a Hybrid III dummy. In: Proceedings of the 2000 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 20-22, 2000; Montpellier, France.307-321.
2009	Ghajari M, Galvanetto U, Iannucci L. Influence of the body on kinematic and tissue level head injury predictors in motorcyclists accidents. In: Proceedings of the 2009 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 9-11, 2009; York, UK.275-286.
2016	Bourdet N, Mojumder S, Piantini S, Deck C, Pierini M, Willinger R. Proposal of a new motorcycle helmet test method for tangential impact. In: Proceedings of the 2016 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 14-16, 2016; Malaga, Spain.479-489.
2017	Deck C, Bourdet N, Halldin P, DeBruyne G, Willinger R. Protection capability of bicycle helmets under oblique impact assessed with two separate brain FE models. In: Proceedings of the 2017 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 13-15, 2017; Antwerp, Belgium.190-200.
2024	Bourdet N, Deck C, Meyer F, Willinger R. Comparative evaluation of motorcycle helmets complying to R22-06 with helmets complying to R22-05 based on Certimoov methodology. In: Proceedings of the 2024 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 11-13, 2024; Stockholm, Sweden.449-459.
1999	Camacho DLA, Nightingale RW, Myers BS. Surface friction in near-vertex head and neck impact increases risk of injury. J Biomech. March 1999;32(3):293-301.
2001	Camacho DLA, Nightingale RW, Myers BS. The influence of surface padding properties on head and neck injury risk. J Biomech Eng. October 2001;123(5):432-439.
1998	Camacho DLA. Dynamic Response of the Head and Cervical Spine to Near-Vertex Head Impact: An Experimental and Computational Study [PhD thesis]. Duke University; 1998.
2019	Meng S. Towards Improved Motorcycle Helmet Test Methods for Head Impact Protection: Using Experimental and Numerical Methods [PhD thesis]. Huddinge, Sweden: KTH Royal Institute of Technology; 2019.
2017	Stuart CA. Snow Sport Head Injury: Characterization of Clinical Presentation and Design of a Relevant Head Impact Apparatus [Master's thesis]. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia; April 2017.
2023	Juste Lorente Ó. Guidelines for Improving Motorcycle Helmet Testing Standards [PhD thesis]. Universidad de Zaragoza; February 2023.