It is critical that manufacturers of football helmets are able to accurately determine how their product will distribute the shock of an impact, while protecting the head. Without sophisticated testing equipment, manufactures may not be able to accurately simulate force, geometries and other impact characteristics that the helmets may be subjected to on the playing field.
To identify how the helmet will distribute the shock and absorb the energy from an impact, we set up a test on our Dynatup® Model 9250HV-Helmet Tester (HT). To perform the shock attenuation test, we installed the Attenuation Piezo Platen, insert, and bell arm. We then attached the helmet to the small head form mounted on the end of the bell arm and then dropped it onto the insert.
The amount of force transmitted through the helmet is quantified with the Force Transmission Package. In this test, the helmet is installed onto a headform, which is then mounted onto the Piezo Compression Platen. Data is collected through the
Impulse™ Data Acquisition System.