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Updated: Jan 4, 2026
A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
High-speed helmeted head impacts in motorcycling: A computational study
Shiyang Meng1, Alessandro Cernicchi2, Svein Kleiven3
1Division of Neuronic Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden; MIPS AB, Källtorpsvägen 2, Täby, 183 71, Sweden.
Motorcycle helmets are tested at low speeds, but this study simulates high-speed impacts. Results show helmet rolling and sliding dynamics significantly impact head protection, suggesting improved testing protocols are needed for better safety.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Motorcycle Safety
- Impact Dynamics
Background:
- Motorcyclists face head impact risks at speeds up to 200 km/h.
- Current helmet testing occurs at a low impact speed of 30 km/h.
- Existing laboratory limitations hinder understanding of high-speed head impact biomechanics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simulate and analyze head-first motorcycle falls at high speeds (0-216 km/h).
- To investigate the effects of falling height and friction on helmet-ground interactions.
- To comprehend rolling and sliding phenomena in oblique helmet impacts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a finite element head model coupled with a motorcycle helmet model.
- Simulated head-first falls across a range of speeds, falling heights, and friction coefficients.
- Analyzed simulation results with an analytical model to understand impact dynamics.
Main Results:
- Identified three helmet-to-ground interaction types: rolling, sliding-rolling combination, and sliding.
- Observed that tangential impulse, head kinematics, and brain strain increase with speed in rolling but plateau in sliding.
- Determined the critical speed for rolling-to-sliding transition depends on fall height and friction.
Conclusions:
- Helmet rolling and sliding dynamics are critical in high-speed oblique impacts.
- Lower sliding resistance (friction) in helmet design can reduce brain strain more effectively in the sliding regime.
- Recommends testing helmets at speeds encompassing both rolling and sliding regimes for improved design evaluation.
