In-Silico Model Validation of Impact on a Composite Helmet Shell

Abstract

Numerical impact simulation plays a critical role in the development and improvement of helmet systems. Due to the curvature of the helmet, the selection of impact position on the helmet may affect the ability to correlate results between numerical models and experimental results. In this study, high-velocity impact simulations were performed on composite plates, as well as a model of a modern composite helmet to validate helmet model performance. Results of the composite plate simulation show a non-converging increase in composite deformation with mesh refinement, indicating that model validation is a function of both material properties and mesh selection. Results of impact on the helmet model show that the calculated deformation of the helmet increases by up to 35% with a 20 mm change in impact position. The positional variation of helmet deformation is most pronounced on the front of the helmet. Due to the significant effect that impact position has on helmet deformation, the numerical model validation cannot be performed against experimental tests of a “small” sample size.