Impact resistance test system for the helmet based on a polyvinylidene fluoride piezoelectric sensor array

Abstract

As the most commonly used personal protection equipment (PPE) in various production activities, the impact resistance of the helmet is of great importance. Referred to the conventional experimental method, this study constructs a helmet impact resistance test system with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sensor array. Compared with the traditional test method, this study installed PVDF sensors on the contact surface between the headform and the helmet. The stress and its distribution on the headform are measured directly, which is helpful to evaluate the impact resistance of the helmet more accurately and comprehensively. Finally, the intra-group correlation coefficient (ICC) and the coefficient of variation (CV) of peak pressure of the repeated test results are calculated to evaluate the reliability of the test system, which shows high reliability. The test system is helpful for optimization of the helmet production design and further related research.

KEYWORDS:

• safety helmet
• impact resistance
• test system
• polyvinylidene fluoride sensor

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of    Central South University [grant number: 2020zzts196].