Shock absorption performance of full-face rider helmets

Abstract

Full-face rider helmets are widely used these days, but the shock absorption and safety performance of them have not been discussed yet. So we examined the shock absorption performance and the safety of three full-face rider helmets (samples A, B, and C) of which the laminated constitutions of the FRP shell part were respectively different. The effect of the hybrid lamination, composed of aramid and glass fabrics, on the shock absorption performance has been discussed also. Testing was performed twice for the same impact site of a helmet hit flat and with semi-spherical anvils, according to the JIS-C shock absorption test method. The following results were obtained: The acceleration waveform measured at the forehead part of Helmet-A, which was hit on a semi-spherical anvil, behaved flatly while the part on the left side of the head behaved parabolically. In the case of Helmets-B and -C, which have an aramid fabric layer, they behaved conversely, such that a flat waveform was observed on the part on the le...