Head and neck responses in oblique motorcycle helmet impacts: a novel laboratory test method

Abstract

The dynamics of a Hybrid III dummy's head and neck in helmeted impacts using a novel oblique impact test were studied. Three impact conditions were investigated that simulated a range of motorcyclist head impacts and provided estimates of head and neck injury using published injury assessment reference values. The resultant linear and angular accelerations in the coronal plane were significantly higher for an impact to the side of the head when compared with frontal impacts. Neck axial forces were recorded, ranging from 2.1 to 3.4 kN. Linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the correlation coefficients that characterised the relationships between dummy responses and impact and sled velocities. Linear regression curves showed that increasing the impact and sled velocities resulted in an increase of the head angular accelerations. The neck axial force was found to positively correlate with the impact and sled velocities in the lateral impacts.

Keywords:

• oblique
• motorcycle helmet
• dummy
• drop test
• head
• neck

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant LP0669480, in conjunction with the UNSW Science Faculty Research Grants Program and Early Career Researcher Grants Program 2009. The industry partners under the linkage scheme include the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Transport, the Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW RTA), the Transport Accident Commission (TAC Victoria), NRMA Motoring and Services, NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust and DVExperts International. The authors wish to express their thanks to Mr Colin Jackson and Mr Malcolm Silva of the RTA in providing equipment and expertise necessary to perform the drop tests. Also the authors wish to thank the staff of the Faculty of Science workshops for their assistance in the design and manufacture of the test rig.