Helmet-Head Interactions under Ballistic Impact: A Study on the Effects of Padding Materials

A computational study of a human head with helmet is carried out in this paper. The focus of the study is on the influence of helmet padding on severity of the inflicted stresses in the brain when the head in under the strike of a ballistic impact. In particular, two different types of foam materials made of expanded polypropylene will be examined for the pads. Assuming the bullet does not penetrate into the head, one can conclude from the resulted brain pressure and stresses that the foam with lower elastic plays a more efficient role in reducing the severity of the inflicted load. The helmet, head and the padding are modeled by finite elements. Appropriate contacts conditions have been enforced between the different components of the head and brain as well as the head and the padding, and padding and the helmet

Keywords:

Helmet , Padding , Ballistic , Head model , Brain Injury , Finite Elements