Design Considerations for the Attenuation of Translational and Rotational Accelerations in American Football Helmets

Kevin G McIver; Patrick Lee; Sean Bucherl; Thomas M Talavage; Gregory D Myer; Eric A Nauman

doi:10.1115/1.4056653

Design Considerations for the Attenuation of Translational and Rotational Accelerations in American Football Helmets

J Biomech Eng. 2023 Jun 1;145(6):061008. doi: 10.1115/1.4056653.

Authors

Kevin G McIver¹, Patrick Lee¹, Sean Bucherl¹, Thomas M Talavage², Gregory D Myer³, Eric A Nauman⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.
² Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221; School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.
³ Emory Sports Performance and Research Center (SPARC), Flowery Branch, GA 30542; Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta, GA 30329; Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329; The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA 02452.
⁴ Dane A. and Mary Louise Miller Professor Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, 2901 Woodside Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221.

Abstract

Participants in American football experience repetitive head impacts that induce negative changes in neurocognitive function over the course of a single season. This study aimed to quantify the transfer function connecting the force input to the measured output acceleration of the helmet system to provide a comparison of the impact attenuation of various modern American football helmets. Impact mitigation varied considerably between helmet models and with location for each helmet model. The current data indicate that helmet mass is a key variable driving force attenuation, however flexible helmet shells, helmet shell cutouts, and more compliant padding can improve energy absorption.

Keywords: football; helmet design; impact; sports safety; traumatic brain injury.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acceleration
Brain Concussion*
Football*
Head Protective Devices
Humans
Mechanical Phenomena

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding