Increased Impact Protection of the Navy's Aviator Helmets

The overall objective of this proposed effort is to develop new energy absorbing liners for Navy aviator helmets providing improved energy absorption properties, equivalent or improved weight, comfort and health characteristics, and that can bemanufactured and installed at an acceptable cost. Toward this goal, Dynamic Research, Inc. proposes to collaborate with Brock USA, a manufacturer of innovative energy absorbing materials. A comprehensive analysis of the technical merit of alternativeenergy absorbing materials would be conducted and candidate materials thus identified. These new materials would be evaluated by physical tests and optimized through the implementation of dynamic finite element models of aviator helmet protectivecomponents, and predictive simulation and subsequent verification of ANSI Z90.1 impact tests. Phase I deliverables include a report documenting the results of the material analysis, the test and simulation results of the candidate materials and apreliminary design for new EA liners for the large size helmet. Phase II includes manufacturing and testing a small quantity of prototype liners, additional simulation, and more extensive testing to refine the design as needed. Phase III includesmanufacturing a large quantity of EA liners to prove manufacturability, demonstrate durability and ease of replacement, and perform final qualification tests. The primary anticipated outcome of this proposed effort would be a design for improved energy absorbing liners for Navy aviator helmets. This would make it possible for the Navy to upgrade the protective capabilities of its existing HGU-68/P andHGU-84/P aviator helmet inventory at a cost that is less than replacement of complete helmets. Similar liners could have application in other aviator helmets.A second outcome of the proposed effort would be development of a sound technical methodology for designing and evaluating improved head protection equipment using innovative materials. This design methodology could have commercial applications in allareas where improved head protection is required in both the public and private sectors. Design and consultation services and related energy absorbing products could be provided to manufacturers and evaluators of head protection gear. In the privatesector this would include manufacturers of recreational helmets intended for use with bicycles, skateboards, inline skates, skiing, climbing, skydiving, motorcycles, and motorsports. Additional manufacturers of head protection related to public andindustrial safety (e.g., police, fire, construction) would also benefit from this approach. In the government and military sectors this could also include helmets for, numerous types of aircraft, tanks and other armored vehicles, police riot equipment andother applications.