Modified Drop Tower Impact Tests for American Football Helmets

Summary

This article provides a novel technique to assess the performance characteristics of American football helmets by inclusion of faceguards during NOCSAE Standard drop tests. Additionally, two more impact locations are proposed to be added to the NOCSAE certification.

Abstract

A modified National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) test method for American football helmet drop impact test standards is presented that would provide better assessment of a helmet's on-field impact performance by including a faceguard on the helmet. In this study, a merger of faceguard and helmet test standards is proposed. The need for a more robust systematic approach to football helmet testing procedures is emphasized by comparing representative results of the Head Injury Criterion (HIC), Severity Index (SI), and peak acceleration values for different helmets at different helmet locations under modified NOCSAE standard drop tower tests. Essentially, these comparative drop test results revealed that the faceguard adds a stiffening kinematic constraint to the shell that lessens total energy absorption. The current NOCSAE standard test methods can be improved to represent on-field helmet hits by attaching the faceguards to helmets and by including two new helmet impact locations (Front Top and Front Top Boss). The reported football helmet test method gives a more accurate representation of a helmet's performance and its ability to mitigate on-field impacts while promoting safer football helmets.

Introduction

Motivation
The main goal of this modified drop tower test method is to more closely represent on-field impacts of the American football helmet system and promote enhanced safety standards. The entailed test method can provide knowledge of helmets systematic response needed to effectively develop enhanced headgear for concussion prevention. The occurrence of concussions has persistently plagued contact sports, such as American Football. In the United States alone, sports-related concussions have been estimated to occur 1.6 to 3.8 million times every year.¹ A football player can have more than 1,500 head impacts each season.^....

Protocol

Note: The protocol for the presented test method refers to the following NOCSAE documents (available at http://nocsae.org/): NOCSAE DOC.002-13m13: "STANDARD PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION FOR NEWLY MANUFACTURED FOOTBALL HELMETS"¹⁸. NOCSAE DOC.011-13m14d: " MANUFACTURERS PROCEDURAL GUIDE FOR PRODUCT SAMPLE SELECTION FOR TESTING TO NOCSAE STANDARDS"²⁴. NOCSAE DOC.087-12m14: " STANDARD METHOD OF IMPACT TEST AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT FOR FOOTBALL FACEGUARDS"²⁵. NOCSAE DOC.100-96m14: "TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE FOR TEST EQUIPMENT AND IMPACT TESTING"²⁶. NOCSAE DOC.101-00m14a: "EQUIPMENT CALIBRATION PROCEDURE....

Results

A detailed quantitative analysis of the results for this methodology was presented by Rush et al.^(submitted) A synopsis of the results and the associated effectiveness of a coupled faceguard-shell helmet testing methodology is displayed in drop test results using Rawlings Quantum Plus, Riddell 360, Schutt Ion 4D, and Xenith X2 helmets as examples. Each of these helmets (of size "large") with faceguards displayed different results when compared to helmets without the fa.......

Discussion

The reported methodology that couples NOCSAE football helmet and faceguard drop impact tests offers a unique technique to assess better performance characteristics of modern football helmets. The most critical steps for evaluating this better performance characteristic of modern football helmets are the following: 1) correctly setting up the mechanical test device; 2) accurately conducting calibration procedures; and 3) properly attaching the helmet/faceguard to the headform.

This methodology .......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
PCB Triaxial Accelerometers	PCB	Model 353B17
TDAS2 Data Acqusition System	Diversified Technical Systems, Inc.	TDAS2	Or an equivalent Data Acquisition System
Current Source (Amplifier)	Dytran Instruments, Inc.	4114B1	Or equivalent
Velocity gate and flag	CADEX	SB203	Or an equivalent velocimeter
Selected Football Helmet(s)/faceguard assem.		including chinstrap and faceguard hardware
Height Gauge
Torque wrench	Snap-on	QD21000	range to 200 in/lb minimum, 5% accuracy
Twin-wire Guide Assembly
Drop Carriage	SIRC	1001
1/2" MEP Testing Pad	SIRC	1006
1/8" Faceguard Testing Pad	SIRC	1007
3" MEP Calibration Pad	SIRC	1005	Including Annual NOCSAE Calibration Pad Qualification Report
3/8" Hook-eye Turnbuckle	SIRC	1043	Forged Steel with a 6" take-up
1/8" Wire Rope Thimble	SIRC	1044
1/8" Spring Music Wire	SIRC	1045
1/8" Wire Rope, Tiller Rope Clamp, Bronze	SIRC	1046
3/8" 16 x 3“ Eye Bolt	SIRC	1041
3/8" Forged Eye Bolt	SIRC	1040
Right Angle DC Hoist Motor	SIRC	2000
Single Groove Sheave (Pulley), 3 ¾"	SIRC	2002
Top Mount Plate	SIRC	2003
18" Top Channel Bracket	SIRC	2004
Wall Mount Channel Bracket, 4' x 1 5/8"	SIRC	2005
Mechanical Release System	SIRC	2006
Lift Cable, Wire Rope, 20' Coil	SIRC	2007
Anvil Base Plate	SIRC	2010
Anvil	SIRC	2011
Headform Adjuster	SIRC	2012
Headform Rotator Stem	SIRC	2013
Headform Threaded Lock ring	SIRC	2016
Headform Collar	SIRC	2014
Nylon Bushing	SIRC	1803
Small Headform	SIRC	1100
Medium Headform	SIRC	1101
Large Headform	SIRC	1102
Taper-Loc Bolt
DC Motor Speed Controller (Reversible)	SIRC	2001