IMPACT HEAD INJURY DATA BASE. FINAL REPORT

A literature review of research on head impact injuries was designed to define the existing data base for protective helmet standardization. Existing standards were reviewed to identify possible links between injury data and compliance test procedures and equipment such as helmets, headforms, and impact devices. Of over 160 documents dealing with head injury and the design and standardization of protective headgear, 13 contained major standards. Many documents dealt with engineering and design aspects of helmets, and even more discussed biomechanical and medical aspects of head injury. The existing medical data base of impact tolerance data was limited to specialized, laboratory loading conditions. There appeared to be little correlation between laboratory tests and actual injury events. Few links were observed between injury data and test procedures used in standards, especially in the selection of headforms and the specification of load limits and other performance criteria indicating acceptable or unacceptable performance for a particular helmet. Recommendations include correlation of impact energy, vector direction, and velocity with accident exposure data. For this, further information is needed. Other recommendations are related to preparation of standards, including use of a standardized headform with a dynamic response which reflects human experience. A lack of dependable injury criteria is cited for impacts other than to the front of the head.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

  2901 Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109-2150
• Authors:
  • Robbins, D H
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 48 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Biophysics; Databases; Design standards; Diseases and medical conditions; Head; Helmets; Injuries
• Uncontrolled Terms: Head injuries
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00390744
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: UM-HSRI-80-21 Final Rpt., HS-029 995
• Contract Numbers: P.O.-77-12124
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1984 12:00AM