SPORTS HELMETS

FOOTBALL HELMET TESTING

IMPROVING TEST METHODS TO REDUCE HEAD INJURIES

The Challenge:

• Develop new testing methodologies for helmet-on-helmet concussion testing
• University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Mechanical Engineering lead a research project with the goal of reducing sports related concussions and traumatic brain injuries
• UAB studied game footage to analyze and “worst case” impact scenarios for testing
• Working with off-board data acquisition systems with cables that can tangle and cause issues with noise or data loss
• Accurate, repeatable test data

The Solution:

• Rugged DTS data acquisition systems and sensors
• Two Hybrid III crash dummies were suited up in full football gear
• One dummy head was instrumented with embedded SLICE NANO data recorders, plus triaxial linear accelerometers and angular rate sensors
• Positioning the DAS near the sensors eliminates trailing cables and improves data quality
• UAB engineered an 80-foot railed track with a motorized sled to recreate impact scenarios
• Set-up time was significantly reduced, no issues with cables tangling or altering test dynamics
• Store in place reliability, data writes directly to non-volatile flash memory
• Easy to use software for set-up, viewing and data export
• Reliable, repeatable test data to validate new methodologies
• DTS expertise in injury biomechanics testing