Schutzhelme für Motorradfahrer

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C96.0005

Key words (English)

Safety helmets; test procedures; head protection; helmet ergonomics; physiology

Research programs (English)

COST-Action 327 - Motorcycle safety helmets

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise: Eidg. Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt EMPA

Partners and International Organizations (English)

D, F, GB, H, I

Abstract (English)

In order to optimise the protection offered by motorcycle helmets, manufacturers rely on improved test procedures allowing to assess helmets more reliably, realistically and comprehensively than based on current helmet standards. Advanced test methods require an enlarged knowledge on the dynamics of motorcycle accidents, the mechanisms of head injuries and the tolerances of the human head. The research of COST Action 327 concerned these questions as well as the development of new test methods regarding some of the most important injury risks for motorcyclists. The work on test procedures, mainly undertaken by EMPA, focused on the rotational acceleration of the head, the influence of the body mass on the dynamics of the head, the stability of the helmet on the head and helmet physiology. Rotational accelerations of the head were investigated in oblique impact experiments using a falling headform (Hybrid II). The measured rotational accelerations were essentially determined by mass, shape and friction of the helmet shells and could be modelled mathematically from these parameters, when using the results from simple geometrical measurements and friction tests. To investigate the influence of the body mass on the dynamics of the head, drop tests using a complete helmeted Hybrid III dummy were carried out under various impact conditions. The comparison to equivalent headform tests showed that the linear and rotational accelerations of the head significantly depend on both the dynamic effects of the body and the mechanical properties of the neck. In the case of oblique impacts it turned out that the effects of the dummy body can be simulated by adjusting the test parameters in the falling headform method. Improved ergonomic and physiological properties of helmets (e.g. sufficient ventilation and removal of heat and moisture from the helmet inside) are considered important in connection with the prevention of motorcycle accidents. As a step towards an appropriate objective test method a novel heated and sweating headform was used to assess the ventilation systems of motorcycle helmets. Typical driving conditions were simulated in a climate chamber using a wind tunnel. In a first test series on four helmet types clear differences were measured in the cooling of the face and the head due to different ventilation systems.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C96.0005