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Project Summary
September 28, 2015 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Concussions present a major problem when it comes to the safety of American Football players. Due to the nature of the sport involving high-speed collisions and forceful contact, players are prone to severe and repeated head injuries that can eventually lead to long-term brain damage and a lower quality of life. The equipment currently available prevents these injuries only to a limited extent, and improved head protection is necessary for the well-being of the players. A helmet that increases the deceleration time of the player’s head and better dissipates the energy and forces of impact will be a significant improvement to the existing equipment, and designing such a helmet is the focus of this senior design team.
Abstract:
In 2015, the National Football League recorded a total of 199 concussions over the course of the year. Furthermore, it has been established that ten percent of all college football players sustain brain injuries while playing the sport and that most concussions come from impacts to the front of the helmet. Much research has been done to determine the best method for minimizing the frequency and severity of concussions in American football. Innovations in the structure and design of football helmets is necessary to accomplish this purpose as it is becoming evident that merely adding more interior padding to the helmet is ineffective at protecting the brain. The primary objective of this project is to maximize the impact-absorption abilities of football helmets to better protect from the powerful forces common in the sport and to aid in the prevention of concussions. The prototype was assembled from pieces of existing football helmets with the addition of a spring-mechanism to dampen forces directed towards the front of the helmet. Testing of the prototype was accomplished using a drop-test, where the helmet was dropped from a height of six feet, and a pendulum test, where a weighted pendulum was directed at the front of the helmet. Analysis of the accelerations, the bounce heights upon first impact, the durability, and the comfort of the helmet were all analyzed during testing. The prototype was tested against an industry standard helmet and the results indicated that the prototype was better able to dampen the impact forces.