Evaluation of Head Protection Capability of Child Helmets to Various Head Shapes

Abstract

The purpoes of this study is to evaluate the protective capability of the children's helmet to various head shapes by using finite element models of the children's helmet and one to three years old children's representative head shapes. Head finite element models of various shapes in each age were constructed based on the distribution of head width, head length and head height in Japanese children from one to three years old. A helmet finite element model was constructed based on the shape data of existing a children's helmet. The finite element analysis simulating a fall from a bicycle was conducted by using these models. The results showed that the protective capability of a helmet was improved by matching the size to be able to wear the helmet deeply to avoid a force concentration at the contact area of the head.