Highlights Three single bicycle accident simulations were performed with and without a helmet. All three helmeted cases showed a reduction of the risk of concussion by up to 54%. The risk of fracture was reduced by up to 98% when including a helmet.
Abstract There is some controversy regarding the effectiveness of helmets in preventing head injuries among cyclists. Epidemiological, experimental and computer simulation studies have suggested that helmets do indeed have a protective effect, whereas other studies based on epidemiological data have argued that there is no evidence that the helmet protects the brain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of a helmet in single bicycle accident reconstructions using detailed finite element simulations. Strain in the brain tissue, which is associated with brain injuries, was reduced by up to 43% for the accident cases studied when a helmet was included. This resulted in a reduction of the risk of concussion of up to 54%. The stress to the skull bone went from fracture level of 80MPa down to 13–16MPa when a helmet was included and the skull fracture risk was reduced by up to 98% based on linear acceleration. Even with a 10% increased riding velocity for the helmeted impacts, to take into account possible increased risk taking, the risk of concussion was still reduced by up to 46% when compared with the unhelmeted impacts with original velocity. The results of this study show that the brain injury risk and risk of skull fracture could have been reduced in these three cases if a helmet had been worn.
The protective effect of a helmet in three bicycle accidents—A finite element study
Accident Analysis and Prevention ; 91 ; 135-143
2016-02-26
9 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
The protective effect of a helmet in three bicycle accidents—A finite element study
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|Effect of helmet use in reducing head injury in bicycle accidents
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|Mode of accidents beyond the protective effect of the helmet
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