Name: modified drop tower impact tests for american football helmets
Uploaded: 2017-02-19T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Modified Drop Tower Impact Tests for American Football Helmets at JoVE.com

The authors would like to acknowledge the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) at Mississippi State University for providing testing facilities and Rush Sports Medical of Meridian, Mississippi for their monetary support.

Note: The protocol for the presented test method refers to the following NOCSAE documents (available at http://nocsae.org/): NOCSAE DOC.002-13m13: &#34;STANDARD PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION FOR NEWLY MANUFACTURED FOOTBALL HELMETS&#34;18. NOCSAE DOC.011-13m14d: &#34; MANUFACTURERS PROCEDURAL GUIDE FOR PRODUCT SAMPLE SELECTION FOR TESTING TO NOCSAE STANDARDS&#34;24. NOCSAE DOC.087-12m14: &#34; STANDARD METHOD OF IMPACT TEST AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT FOR FOOTBALL FACEGUARDS&#34;25...

<ol>
	<li>Langlois, J. A., Rutland-Brown, W., Wald, M. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+epidemiology+and+impact+of+traumatic+brain+injury:+a+brief+overview.">The epidemiology and impact of traumatic brain injury: a brief overview.</a> J Head Trauma Rehabil. (5), 375-378 (2006).</li><li>Broglio, S. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Head+impacts+during+high+school+football:+a+biomechanical+assessment.">Head impacts during high school football: a biomechanical assessment.</a> J Athl Train. 44, 342-349 (2009).</li><li>Broglio, S. P., Martini, D., Kasper, L., Eckner, J. T., Kutcher, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Estimation+of+head+impact+exposure+in+high+school+football:+Implications+for+regulating+contact+practices.">Estimation of head impact exposure in high school football: Implications for regulating contact practices.</a> Am. J. Sports Med. 41, 2877-2884 (2013).</li><li>Costanza, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Review:+Contact+sport-related+chronic+traumatic+encephalopathy+in+the+elderly:+clinical+expression+and+structural+substrates.">Review: Contact sport-related chronic traumatic encephalopathy in the elderly: clinical expression and structural substrates.</a> Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 37, 570-584 (2011).</li><li>McKee, A. C., Cantu, R. C., Nowinski , C. J., Hedley-Whyte, E. T., Gavett, B. E., Budson, A. E., Santini, V. E., Lee, H. S., Kubilus , C. A., Stern, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chronic+traumatic+encephalopathy+in+athletes:+progressive+tauopathy+after+repetitive+head+injury.">Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in athletes: progressive tauopathy after repetitive head injury.</a> J. Neuropathol Exp Neurol. , 709-735 (2003).</li><li>Bartsch, A., Benzel, E., Miele, V., Prakash, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Impact+test+comparisons+of+20th+and+21st+century+American+football+helmets:+Laboratory+investigation.">Impact test comparisons of 20th and 21st century American football helmets: Laboratory investigation.</a> J Neurosurg. 116, 222-233 (2012).</li><li>NOCSAE. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Standard Performance Specification for Newly Manufactured Football Helmets. , (2013).</li><li>Greenwald, R. M., Gwin, J. T., Chu, J. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Head+Impact+Severity+Measures+for+Evaluating+Mild+Traumatic+Brain+Injury+Risk+Exposure.">Head Impact Severity Measures for Evaluating Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Risk Exposure.</a> Neurosurg. 62, 789-798 (2008).</li><li>Newman, J. A., Yoganandan, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Accidental Injury: Biomechanics and Prevention. , (2015).</li><li>Newman, J. A., Shewchenko, N., Welbourne, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+proposed+new+biomechanical+head+injury+assessment+function+-+the+maximum+power+index.">A proposed new biomechanical head injury assessment function - the maximum power index.</a> Stapp Car Crash J. 44, 215-247 (2000).</li><li>Gadd, C. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+a+weighted-impulse+criterion+for+estimating+injury+hazard.">Use of a weighted-impulse criterion for estimating injury hazard.</a> SAE Technical Papers. , (1966).</li><li>Lissner, H. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experimental+Studies+on+the+Relation+Between+Acceleration+and+Intracranial+Pressure+Changes+in+Man.">Experimental Studies on the Relation Between Acceleration and Intracranial Pressure Changes in Man.</a> Surgery, Gynecology and Obsterics. III, 329-338 (1960).</li><li>Gurdjian, E. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Concussion+-+Mechanism+and+Pathology.">Concussion - Mechanism and Pathology.</a> , (1963).</li><li>Patrick, L. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Survival+by+Design+-+Head+Protection.">Survival by Design - Head Protection.</a> , (1963).</li><li>Versace, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+review+of+the+Severity+Index.">A review of the Severity Index.</a> SAE Technical Papers. , (1971).</li><li>Newman, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+new+biomechanical+assessment+of+mild+traumatic+brain+injury.+Part+2.+Results+and+conclusions.">A new biomechanical assessment of mild traumatic brain injury. Part 2. Results and conclusions.</a> Proceedings of International Research Conference on the Biomechanics of Impacts. , 223-233 (2000).</li><li>NOCSAE. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Standard Performance Specification for Newly Manufactured Football Helmets. , (2011).</li><li>NOCSAE. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Standard Test Method and Equipment used in Evaluating the Performance Characteristics of Protective Headgear/Equipment. , (2015).</li><li>NOCSAE. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Standard Method of Impact Test and Performance Requirements for Football Faceguards. , (2011).</li><li>NOCSAE. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Standards and Process. , (2013).</li><li>Gwin, J. T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+investigation+of+the+NOCSAE+linear+impactor+test+method+based+on+in+vivo+measures+of+head+impact+acceleration+in+American+football.">An investigation of the NOCSAE linear impactor test method based on in vivo measures of head impact acceleration in American football.</a> J Biomech Eng. 132, (2010).</li><li>NOCSAE. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Standard Performance Specification for Newly Manufactured Lacrosse Helmets with Faceguards. , (2013).</li><li>Hodgson, V. R., Thomas, L. M., Prasad, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Testing+the+validity+and+limitations+of+the+severity+index.">Testing the validity and limitations of the severity index.</a> SAE Technical Papers. , (1970).</li><li>NOCSAE. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Manufactureers Procedural Guide for Product Sample Selection for Testing to NOCSAE Standards. , (2014).</li><li>NOCSAE. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Standard Method of Impact Test and Performance Requirements for Football Faceguards. , (2014).</li><li>NOCSAE. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Troubleshooting Guide for Test Equipment and Impact Testing. , (2014).</li><li>NOCSAE. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Equipment Calibration Procedures. , (2014).</li></ol>

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 ...

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.2,3 While the magnitude of most impacts may be sub-concussive, the accumulation of these impacts may lead to long-term brain damage due to an impact induced neurodegenerative ailment known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).4 CTE is linked to a buildup of tau protein in the brain, leading to memory loss, behavior and personality change, Parkinson&#39;s syndrome, and speech and gait abnormalities that has sometimes led to suicide.5 Football helmets have made some technological advancements in the past 15 years, but even today&#39;s most advanced helmets do not completely mitigate all of the incident forces on the helmet and hence, athletes still incur concussions. A study conducted by Bartsch et al.6 showed that in many cases the head impact doses and head injury risks while wearing vintage leatherhead helmets were comparable to those wearing the widely used 21st century helmets, illustrating the need for improvement in the design and testing standards of football helmets. In particular, the NOCSAE certification7 does not require the faceguard to be included in the drop tests for the helmet. The added stiffness from the faceguard connected to the helmet would dramatically change the overall mechanical response. The present study entails a method to provide more robust helmet safety standards that would serve as a driving force to promote safer helmet designs.
Background 
Head Injury Metrics 
The exact biological mechanisms related to concussions remain unidentified. While much work has been done in attempting to quantify head injury tolerances by various injury metrics, disagreement has arisen in the biomedical community regarding these criteria. These injury mechanisms are supposed to relate to several entities: linear acceleration, rotational acceleration, impact duration, and impulse.8,9,10,11 Several Injury criteria have been used to define a concussion as a measure of linear acceleration. The Wayne State Tolerance Curve (WSTC)12,13,14 was developed to predict skull fracture for automotive crashes during a frontal impact by defining a threshold curve boundary for linear acceleration versus impact duration. WSTC has served as the bases for other injury criteria such as the Severity Index (SI)11 and the Head Injury Criterion (HIC),15 which are the two most commonly used criteria. The SI and HIC both measure impact severity based on weighted integrals of the linear acceleration-time profiles. While these criteria define thresholds for linear acceleration, other criteria have been proposed to account for rotational acceleration, such as the Head Impact Power index.8,10,16 Today&#39;s helmet testing standards often use an injury criterion based upon the Wayne State Tolerance Curve (namely HIC or SI) or the peak acceleration criterion or in some cases both. While some modifications are needed to add angular acceleration to the standard performance criteria, the linear acceleration-based criteria remain dominant.
In this study, the metrics used to assess the relative safety that each helmet provided were the peak resultant accelerations, SI, and HIC values. Of these metrics only the SI is used for evaluation in the current National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) football helmet standards. The SI is based on the following equation,
<img alt="Equation 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/53929/53929eq1.jpg" width="100" />&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; (1)
where A is the translational acceleration of the Center of Gravity (CG) of the head, and t is the acceleration duration.11,17SI was calculated according to NOCSAE standards18, where the calculation is limited by a 4 G threshold along the resultant acceleration curve. The HIC values were calculated by the following equation,
<img alt="Equation 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/53929/53929eq2.jpg" width="325" />&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; (2)
where a is the translational acceleration of the CG of the head, and t1 and t2 are the initial and final times, respectively, of the interval at which HIC attains a maximum value. All HIC values calculated in this study were HIC36, where the duration of the time interval is limited to 36 ms.
NOCSAE Football Helmet Test Standards 
NOCSAE Overview 
In 1969 NOCSAE was formed to develop performance standards for American football helmets/faceguards and other sporting equipment with a goal of reducing sports-related injuries.17 The NOCSAE football helmet standards were developed by Dr. Voigt Hodgson9 of Wayne State University to reduce head injuries by establishing requirements for impact attenuation and structural integrity for football helmets/faceguards. These football helmet standards include a certification test and annual recertification procedures for helmets. In 2015, NOCSAE implemented a quality assurance program requiring the use of a specific American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited body for helmet certification.
NOCSAE Test Method 
The NOCSAE Football Helmet Standard does not include the testing of helmets with faceguards as it calls for their removal before helmet drops are conducted. The NOCSAE helmet testing standards17 utilize a twin-wire drop impactor that relies on gravity to accelerate the headform and helmet combination to the required impact speeds. The NOCSAE headform is instrumented with triaxial accelerometers at the center of gravity. The headform and helmet combination is then dropped at specific speeds onto a steel anvil covered with a 12.7 mm thick hard rubber Modular Elastomer Programmer (MEP) pad. Upon impact, the instantaneous acceleration is recorded and SI values are calculated. These SI values are compared against a pass/fail criterion over a variety of required impact locations and velocities and two temperatures, including ambient and high temperature impacts. If the resulting SI value for any impact breaches the threshold, then the helmet will not pass the test.
A separate standard test method is used for football faceguard certification. The NOCSAE football faceguard standard includes structural integrity analysis as well as assessing the impact attenuation performance of the faceguard, chinstrap, and their attachment systems. Each impact measurement must be below 1,200 SI to pass the test, with no facial contact and no mechanical failure of any component, as defined by the NOCSAE Standard.19
There is a proposed additional NOCSAE test (Linear Impactor (LI))20 that includes the helmet with the faceguard, but it is not appropriate for football helmet certification because it cannot admit a crown impact. The LI uses a pneumatic ram to impact a helmet positioned on a NOCSAE headform equipped with a hybrid III dummy neck mounted on a linear bearing table in order to induce angular acceleration. For this reason the LI test is an additional test to the current twin-wire NOCSAE drop test procedure and not a replacement.20,21 Instead of the LI tests, we propose to simply add two more scenarios to the current twin-wire drop test procedure.
The NOCSAE standard test method for certification of football helmets currently includes six prescribed impact locations and one random impact location. The prescribed impact locations include the following: Front (F), Front Boss (FB), Side (S), Rear (R), Rear Boss (RB), and Top (T). The random impact location test may select a region from any point within the defined acceptable impact area of the helmet. The impact locations for our modified NOCSAE drop tower tests include replacing the previously defined Front and Front Boss impact locations with what was named as the Front Top (FT) and Front Top Boss (FTB) impact locations. Our Front Top and Front Top Boss impact locations are identical to the Front and Right Front Boss impact locations of the NOCSAE standard for Lacrosse Helmets, which also include the faceguard for drop tests.22 The helmet shell impact locations, including the replaced Front and Front Boss locations, are depicted in Figure 1. Additionally, the modified helmet test method of our present study includes two faceguard impact locations that were named the FG Front and FG Bottom. The two faceguard impacts locations are identical to the required impact locations for the current NOCSAE faceguard certification procedures. The eight impact locations for the modified NOCSAE impact tests of the present study are shown in Figure 2.
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/53929/53929fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Approximate impact locations for football helmets. The six currently required NOCSAE drop test helmet impact locations, Front (F), Front Boss (FB), Side (S), Top (T), Rear (R), and Rear Boss (RB), and the two proposed impact locations, Front Top (FT), and Front Top Boss (FTB). Note: the NOCSAE standard test method for protective headgear does not include Front Top and Front Top Boss impact locations (indicated in red text) and for this study they replace the Front and Front Boss impact locations. (Image modified from NOCSAE DOC. 001-13m15b) <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/53929/53929fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/53929/53929fig2.jpg" /> 
Figure 2: Modified NOCSAE drop test setup showing eight impact locations. Front Top, Front Top Boss, Side, Faceguard (FG) Front, Rear, Rear Boss, Top, and Faceguard Bottom (FB). Note: the NOCSAE standard does not include faceguard attachment and here Front Top and Front Top Boss replace the standard Front and Front Boss impact locations. (Image modified from NOCSAE DOC. 002-11m12) <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/53929/53929fig2large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
Helmet designs have progressively changed in the past decade, whereas the NOCSAE football helmet standards have never included the faceguard with the helmet in evaluating the football helmet performance specifications. While, recently an amendment has been made to include a pass/fail value of 300 SI for the lowest velocity impacts (3.46 m/s), the general pass/fail limit of 1,200 SI has not changed since 1997.17 Prior to 1997, the NOCSAE used a 1,500 SI pass/fail criterion. Hodgson et al. (1970) has shown that SI values of greater than 1,000 is a danger to life, while SI values of 540 have produced linear skull fractures in non-helmeted cadaveric impact tests.23 Most modern football helmets have shown to pass well below the 1,200 SI limit but not all below 540 SI.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>PCB Triaxial Accelerometers</td>
			<td>PCB</td>
			<td>Model 353B17</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TDAS2 Data Acqusition System</td>
			<td>Diversified Technical Systems, Inc.&#160;</td>
			<td>TDAS2</td>
			<td>Or an equivalent Data Acquisition System</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Current Source (Amplifier)&#160;</td>
			<td>Dytran Instruments, Inc.</td>
			<td>4114B1</td>
			<td>Or equivalent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Velocity gate and flag</td>
			<td>CADEX</td>
			<td>SB203</td>
			<td>Or an equivalent velocimeter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2">Selected Football Helmet(s)/faceguard assem.</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>including chinstrap and faceguard hardware</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Height Gauge</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Torque wrench</td>
			<td>Snap-on</td>
			<td>QD21000</td>
			<td>range to 200 in/lb minimum, 5 % accuracy</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="4">Twin-wire Guide Assembly</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Drop Carriage&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1/2&#34; MEP Testing Pad</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1006</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1/8&#34; Faceguard Testing Pad</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1007</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3&#34; MEP Calibration Pad</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1005</td>
			<td>Including Annual NOCSAE Calibration Pad Qualification Report</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3/8&#34; Hook-eye Turnbuckle</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1043</td>
			<td>Forged Steel with a 6&#34; take-up&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1/8&#34; Wire Rope Thimble&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1/8&#34; Spring Music Wire&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1/8&#34; Wire Rope, Tiller Rope Clamp, Bronze&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1046</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3/8&#34; 16 x 3 &#8220; Eye Bolt&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1041</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3/8&#34; Forged Eye Bolt</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1040</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Right Angle DC Hoist Motor&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Single Groove Sheave (Pulley), 3 &#190;&#34;&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Top Mount Plate</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>18&#34; Top Channel Bracket&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2004</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Wall Mount Channel Bracket, 4&#39; x 1 5/8&#34;&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2005</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mechanical Release System&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2006</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lift Cable, Wire Rope, 20&#39; Coil&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2007</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anvil Base Plate&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anvil&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2011</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Headform Adjuster&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2012</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Headform Rotator Stem</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2013</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Headform Threaded Lock ring</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2016</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160;Headform Collar&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2014</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nylon Bushing&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1803</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Small Headform&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Medium Headform&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Large Headform</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>1102</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Taper-Loc Bolt</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DC Motor Speed Controller (Reversible)&#160;</td>
			<td>SIRC</td>
			<td>2001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

modified drop tower impact tests for american football helmets

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.

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 &#34;large&#34;) with faceguards displayed different results when compared to helmets withou...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Modified Drop Tower Impact Tests for American Football Helmets at JoVE.com

Modified Drop Tower Impact Tests for American Football Helmets

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.

A modified National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) test method for American football helmet drop impact test standards ...

The goals of this modified drop tower test are to more closely represent on-field impacts of the American football helmet system to promote enhanced safety standards and to develop enhanced headgear for concussion prevention. This method can help answer key questions in the field of biomedical engineering, such as, the on-field response of protective headgear and how to better prevent sports related concussions. The main advantage of this technique is that it offers a more robust helmet safety test while it uses the current NOCSAE standard twin-wire test device.This test uses an NOCSAE twin-wire drop carriage assembly. First, verify that all components of the assembly are securely attached. Then, attach a large sized NOCSAE headform to the drop carriage assembly.Adjust the headform collar in the desired position and tighten it down with the lock ring. Then, secure the attached, the Triaxial Accelerometer to the center of the accelerometer plate, which is located at the headform center of gravity. Use the provided Allen head screws.To complete the setup, configure the Data Acquisition System and enter the sensor information for the accelerometers. Prepare to conduct the baseline helmet impact tests with baseline safeguards, in contrast to the NOCSAE standard. To calibrate the headform, first secure the attached a three inch calibration MEP pad to the Anvil using an Allen wrench.Next, adjust the impact orientation. First, remove the taper lock bolt from the headform rotator assembly, which may require using a vice and punch. Now, orient the headform bolt holes to the desired position and securely refasten the taper lock bolt.To rotate the headform, loosen the headform threaded lock ring. Finally, adjust the specific point of impact. Loosen the two base plate Anvil bolts and slide the Anvil into position.Then, re-tighten the bolts and double check that all the refastened connections are secure. To begin the calibration, lift the drop carriage assembly to the height of the release system, center the release system to its attachment point on the drop carriage assembly and turn on the electro magnetic release system. Now, raise the drop carriage assembly to get the desired impact velocity.Due to variation and friction of different systems, the required height needs to be determined empirically. Before conducting the test, make sure the data acquisition system will start when the release system is triggered. Now, simultaneously trip both toggles on the release system power box to drop the carriage assembly.Next, calculate and record the resulting SI value. The desired value is within two percent of 1200 SI.Continue by repeating the calibration for all three required impact locations. For the test, exchange the MEP pad used for calibration with the MEP test pad.Then, select the impact location and velocity for testing. The impacts must be conducted from the lowest drop velocity to the highest. Also, conduct ambient temperature impacts before conditioned impacts.Next, properly adjust the headform orientation and Anvil position for the desired impact location as before. Now, fit the test helmet to the test form according to the helmet's fitting instructions and the NOCSAE procedures. Then, secure the helmet's chin strap to the headform.Proper fit of the helmet on the headform is critical. And since some of the face mask attachment systems vary, some face masks may have to be attached after the helmet is fit on to the headform. Sometimes, a little talcum powder can help make the fit.Next, attach the mechanical release system to the drop carriage assembly. Raise the carriage to the required height, and conduct the test, just like during calibration. Then, compare the recorded results to the pass/fail criteria.After all the tests are completed, perform a systems check and compare the post test check to the pre test check to ensure a variation of seven percent or less. SI values were determined for various helmets with and without the faceguard using three consecutive impacts within 90 seconds of each other. While the mean value was well below the NOCSAE 1200 SI threshold, each helmet displayed a unique location dependent response when the faceguard was attached.A least squares regression by analysis of variance was used for the P value calculations. Significant differences were found with helmets with and without faceguards. Specifically, the Xenith X2 helmet with and without faceguard, at 4.88 meters per second, was very different in the acceleration time history profile at each measured access.The overall results were strongly dependent on impact location and velocity. Once mastered, this technique can be done in two hours if it's performed properly. While attempting this procedure, it is important to remember not to induce additional variation by ensuring that the mechanical test assembly is properly and securely maintained.After its development, this technique offers and effective solution. It allows the ability to better assess current and future football helmet systems. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding on how to perform modified NOCSEA impact tests on American football helmets by inclusion of the faceguard.These procedures include twin-wire drop test device set up helmet preparation, calibration, and helmet impact testing routines. Don't forget that droop-tower testing can be dangerous and safeguards should be used to avoid accidental triggering of the drop-tower test device.

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