Certified Motorcycle Helmets: Computational Evaluation of the Efficacy of Standard Requirements with Finite Element Models

Every year, thousands of people die in the European Union as a direct result of road accidents. Helmets are one of the most important types of personal safety gear. The ECE R22.05 standard, adopted in 2000, is responsible for the certification of motorcycle helmets in the European Union and in many other countries. Two decades later, it is still being used with the same requirements, without any update. The aim of this work is to evaluate the efficacy of a motorcycle helmet certified by such standard, using computational models as an assessment tool. First, a finite element model of a motorcycle helmet available on the market was developed and validated by simulating the same impacts required by the standard. Then, a finite element model of the human head is used as an injury prediction tool to assess its safety performance. Results indicate a significant risk of brain injury, which is in accordance with previous studies available in the literature. Therefore, this work underlines and emphasizes the need of improving the requirements of ECE R22.05.

[1]  V. A. Bellora,et al.  Meeting interior head impact requirements: A basic scientific approach , 2001 .

[2]  Fábio A. O. Fernandes,et al.  Finite element analysis of helmeted oblique impacts and head injury evaluation with a commercial road helmet , 2013 .

[3]  Milan Toma,et al.  Coup-contrecoup brain injury: fluid–structure interaction simulations , 2020, International Journal of Crashworthiness.

[4]  Ouk Sub Lee,et al.  Experimental study on impact absorbing performance of motorcycle helmets , 1997 .

[5]  Rémy Willinger,et al.  Brain injury tolerance limit based on computation of axonal strain. , 2016, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[6]  Nicholas J. Mills,et al.  FEA of oblique impact tests on a motorcycle helmet , 2009 .

[7]  A. King,et al.  Comparison of brain responses between frontal and lateral impacts by finite element modeling. , 2001, Journal of neurotrauma.

[8]  Michael D. Gilchrist,et al.  The creation of three-dimensional finite element models for simulating head impact biomechanics , 2003 .

[9]  Fábio A. O. Fernandes,et al.  Comparing the mechanical performance of synthetic and natural cellular materials , 2015 .

[10]  Svein Kleiven,et al.  Influence of impact direction on the human head in prediction of subdural hematoma. , 2003, Journal of neurotrauma.

[11]  Chao Yu,et al.  A Computational Biomechanics Human Body Model Coupling Finite Element and Multibody Segments for Assessment of Head/Brain Injuries in Car-To-Pedestrian Collisions , 2020, International journal of environmental research and public health.

[12]  Mariusz Ptak,et al.  Helmet Design Based on the Optimization of Biocomposite Energy-Absorbing Liners under Multi-Impact Loading , 2019, Applied Sciences.

[13]  R. J. Alves de Sousa,et al.  Detection of bridging veins rupture and subdural haematoma onset using a finite element head model , 2019, Clinical biomechanics.

[14]  L. Cui,et al.  Optimisation of energy absorbing liner for equestrian helmets. Part II: Functionally graded foam liner , 2009 .

[15]  P. Saboori,et al.  Brain Injury and Impact Characteristics , 2019, Annals of Biomedical Engineering.

[16]  Songbai Ji,et al.  Brain strain uncertainty due to shape variation in and simplification of head angular velocity profiles , 2017, Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology.

[17]  L. Cui,et al.  Optimisation of energy absorbing liner for equestrian helmets , 2009 .

[18]  Praveen K. Pinnoji,et al.  Design of ventilated helmets: computational fluid and impact dynamics studies , 2008 .

[19]  King H. Yang,et al.  Development of a finite element human head model partially validated with thirty five experimental cases. , 2013, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[20]  Rémy Willinger,et al.  Modelling and validation of motorcyclist helmet with composite shell , 2012 .

[21]  James A. Newman,et al.  HEAD INJURY CRITERIA IN AUTOMOTIVE CRASH TESTING , 1980 .

[22]  M. Gilchrist,et al.  Mechanical characterization of brain tissue in compression at dynamic strain rates. , 2012, Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials.

[23]  S. Kleiven,et al.  Consequences of head size following trauma to the human head. , 2002, Journal of biomechanics.

[24]  K. Chinzei,et al.  Mechanical properties of brain tissue in tension. , 2002, Journal of biomechanics.

[25]  King H. Yang,et al.  Investigation of Head Injury Mechanisms Using Neutral Density Technology and High-Speed Biplanar X-ray. , 2001, Stapp car crash journal.

[26]  King H. Yang,et al.  A proposed injury threshold for mild traumatic brain injury. , 2004, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[27]  S. Kleiven,et al.  Injury tolerances for oblique impact helmet testing , 2004 .

[28]  R. J. Alves de Sousa,et al.  Motorcycle helmets--a state of the art review. , 2013, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[29]  M.S.J. Hashmi,et al.  motorcycle helmet , 2002, The Fairchild Books Dictionary of Fashion.

[30]  Taotao Wu,et al.  An Analytical Review of the Numerical Methods used for Finite Element Modeling of Traumatic Brain Injury , 2018, Annals of Biomedical Engineering.

[31]  Ludk Hyník,et al.  Development of a simple motorcyclist helmet finite element model , 2018 .

[32]  S. Duma,et al.  Investigation of traumatic brain injuries using the next generation of simulated injury monitor (SIMon) finite element head model. , 2008, Stapp car crash journal.

[33]  Caroline Deck,et al.  Head injury prediction capability of the HIC, HIP, SIMon and ULP criteria. , 2008, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[34]  D. Meaney,et al.  Tissue-level thresholds for axonal damage in an experimental model of central nervous system white matter injury. , 2000, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[35]  K. T. Ramesh,et al.  An axonal strain injury criterion for traumatic brain injury , 2012, Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology.

[36]  A. Pratellesi,et al.  On the effect of testing uncertainties in the homologation tests of motorcycle helmets according to ECE 22.05 , 2011 .

[37]  Michael D. Gilchrist,et al.  Modelling and Accident Reconstruction of Head Impact Injuries , 2003 .

[38]  Praveen K. Pinnoji,et al.  Analysis of impact-induced damage and delamination in the composite shell of a helmet , 2010 .

[39]  Fábio AO Fernandes,et al.  Head injury predictors in sports trauma – A state-of-the-art review , 2015, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine.

[40]  James A. Newman.  On the Use of the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) in Protective Headgear Evaluation , 1975 .

[41]  T. Gennarelli.  Head injury in man and experimental animals: clinical aspects. , 1983, Acta neurochirurgica. Supplementum.

[42]  Harikrishnan Narayanan Unni,et al.  Intracranial pressure–based validation and analysis of traumatic brain injury using a new three-dimensional finite element human head model , 2020, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine.

[43]  Liangliang Shi,et al.  Helmet protective performance via reconstruction of electric two-wheeler rider’s head-to-ground impact accidents , 2020, International Journal of Crashworthiness.

[44]  Ugo Galvanetto,et al.  Virtual modelling of safety helmets: practical problems , 2008 .

[45]  Aleksandar Subic,et al.  Finite element bicycle helmet models development , 2015 .

[46]  M.S.J. Hashmi,et al.  Motorcycle helmet: Part II. Materials and design issues , 2002 .

[47]  Gustav Ingmar Johnson.  Investigations on impact testing of head injury protection helmets , 2000 .

[48]  Mariusz Ptak,et al.  Development and validation of a new finite element human head model , 2018 .

[49]  S. Margulies,et al.  A proposed tolerance criterion for diffuse axonal injury in man. , 1992, Journal of biomechanics.

[50]  Rémy Willinger,et al.  New methodology for improvement of helmet performances during impacts with regards to biomechanical criteria , 2012 .