Vectored Force Suspension Helmet Liner (VFSHEL)

During Phase I work under MARCORSYSCOM Contract Number M67854-15-C-6512, HMC performed engineering design work, material selection, prototype fabrication, LS Dyna based Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and performance optimization of an innovative suspension helmet liner for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH). The proposed Vectored Force Suspension Helmet Liner (VFSHEL) functions to dissipate blunt, ballistic and blast impact force energy in a manner similar to that of force vectoring bridge trusses and vehicle leaf springs. These efforts resulted in an end of Phase I Base Period VFSHEL design that satisfied MARCORSYSCOMs threshold Blunt and Ballistic Impact Energy Dissipation performance criteria. During Phase II VFSHEL development, HMC will apply mechanical & structural engineering design principles, application specific materials engineering, LS Dyna FEA simulation & analysis, performance optimization and manufacturing engineering to improve the performance of the Phase I VFSHEL. Laboratory based impact and stability testing of fabricated VFSHEL prototypes during Phase II will provide benchmark data from which HMC engineers will facilitate incremental VFSHEL design and material improvements aimed at optimizing its ECH impact performance. HMC's primary technical objective during Phase II is development of a VFSHEL that, at a minimum, satisfies MARCORSYSCOM's threshold performance criteria.