Estimating energy absorbing performance of motorcycle safety helmet

Abstract

Motorcyclists' fatalities are overrepresented in the national statistics for years and the figure is predicted to rise further into the year 2020. In details, head injuries have contributed approximately 60% to the records, despite the use of safety helmets. New helmets performance has been well studied and widely accepted to reduce the head injury risks to motorcyclists by way of maximizing crash energy absorption. However in-service helmets energy management capability and information are limited. Therefore, this work attempts to further explore the knowledge and seek clarification of in-service helmet energy absorbing performance by performing experimental tests relative to standards protocols. A set of in-service helmets were collected from the public through an exchange basis and impact-tested twice per sites, at 4 sites, in accordance to MSI:1996 test protocols. The main data obtained was head form center of gravity acceleration values, in terms of g. The results indicated that energy absorbing performances of most in-service helmets were able to meet standard requirements, regardless of their service ages. A few samples, however, demonstrated out of tolerance performances especially in the successive impact test at the same sites. Appearance of micro crack in the impact foam may have contributed to these values.