EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY ON IMPACT ABSORBING PERFORMANCE OF MOTORCYCLE HELMETS

The regulation regarding motorcycle helmets to protect the head from i mpacts has been amended recently. In Europe, the Head Injury Criteria (HIC), which is more relevant to indicate the probability of death tha n the limitation of maximum acceleration, has been adopted. An experim ental study has been conducted following the procedure of the new Euro pean regulation, by changing various helmet structural parameters such as the lamination and the bulk density of the shell, and the liner, t o investigate the ability of the helmet to protect the head from injur ies. The maximum acceleration and HIC were measured. Experimental data have been analyzed with respect to varying lamination of shells and w eight of liners, The HIC was found to be improved by reducing the bulk density of the liner and the number of laminations of a shell, and by increasing the loading area of the headform.