Citation

Mills NJ, Gilchrist A. Proc. Assoc. Adv. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1992; 36: 149-162.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The structural behavior and deformation mechanisms of the shells of motorcycle helmets in impacts has been studied. The localized bending of the shell was measured by a set of accelerometers, and the values related to force on the striker. Thermoplastic helmet shells are less stiff than composite ones and they rebound more. When a fibre reinforced shell hits a flat surface the shell deformation is small, and 75% of the foam liner deformation occurs by the rigid headform compressing the inside of the liner. A deformable skull would not compress the foam in the same way, so national test standards may have led to inappropriate helmet designs.