A Finite Element Investigation into the Impact Performance of an Open-Face Motorcycle Helmet with Ventilation Slots

Abstract

Abstract:Motorcycle helmets are essential for reducing the risk of head injuries in the event of an impact. However, during the design of helmets, a compromise must be made between user safety and user comfort. Accordingly, the present study proposes a novel open-face helmet design, in which the helmet features three ventilation slots in the upper-head region. Finite element analysis (FEA) models were constructed for both a prototype helmet design, and three traditional helmet designs (full-face, open-face, and half-face helmets). In simulating the proposed open-face helmet, this study considered three different ventilation slot widths, namely 8, 14, and 18 mm. The simulation results showed that of all the helmet designs, the half-face helmet resulted in the greatest headform acceleration (303 G). The internal ventilation helmet achieved a lower peak acceleration than that of the full-face helmet. By contrast, the proposed open-face helmet with ventilation slots resulted in the lowest acceleration, irrespective of the ventilation slot width. The 8-mm ventilation slot width resulted in the optimal impact performance level (i.e., a peak headform acceleration of 160 G). Overall, the results suggest that the proposed open-face helmet design with ventilation slots provides a promising solution for ensuring both user protection and user comfort in warm climates.

Prediction of impact response in construction safety helmet using FEA

“…Material for hard outer shell is chosen as high density polyethylene with piecewise linear plasticity and cradle is of low-density polyethylene with plastic kinematics (Long et al, 2015). The headform was assumed to be made up of aluminium and modelled with increasing stiffness to avoid the elastic deformation during impact (Liu and Chen, 2017). The striker was made up of steel.…”

“…Modified FE models of human head have been developed by Wu et al (2017) to assess the effect of neck and body mass during impact on a construction safety helmet and relative responses on head-brain model. Liu and Chen (2017) developed the mechanical FE model of an open face-motorcycle helmet having ventilation slots and safety standards (IS 2925) were considered during impact tests. This standard test includes a drop test to verify the impact response of a CS helmet using a mass of 3 kg striking from a height of 1.5 m on a helmet (Bureau of Indian standards IS 7692, 1993).…”

“…The result shows that, time of absorbing shocks by hard shell (3-8 ms) is more as compared to cradle (1-3 ms) (Figure 6). The ability of hard shell absorbing the shocks depends on its geometrical shape (Long et al, 2015) as well as ventilation slots (Pinnoji et al, 2008;Liu and Chen, 2017). Increasing the area of ventilation slots reduces the stiffness of helmet shell and dampens the shock.…”

FE Analysis of Motorcycle Helmet Performance under Severe Accidents

“…One of the tests is the impact test, which has the highest potential to verify helmet structural performance by evaluating the peak acceleration and head injury criteria (HIC) at the assigned headform. Therefore, the impact test is typically used and studied as the essential requirement for helmet structure to ensure its strength for the head protection of passengers [12][13][14][15].…”