By applying the finite element approach to the design and analysis of the impact diffusion helmet, many helmet configurations were able to be analyzed. Initially it was important to determine what design variables had an influence on the impact reducing abilities of the helmet design. The helmet was run through a series of Abaqus simulations that determined that a design with two oval shaped channels running along the length of the helmet was best. Next, these options were optimized to generate the helmet that produced the greatest impact reduction. The optimization simulations determined that a helmet that pushed the channels as far from the impact zone as possible reported the lowest acceleration. This indicated that removing the channels from play was most advantageous from an impact reduction perspective. Finally, a 3-D printed experimental helmet was impact tested and compared to a 3-D printed control helmet. The experimental helmet brought the channels back into the impact zone in order to judge if they had a physical effect on the acceleration. Both the simulations and the subsequent physical testing indicated that the Impact Diffusion Helmet design has a negative influence on the concussion reducing properties of a football helmet.
","abstract_html":"<p>By applying the finite element approach to the design and analysis of the impact diffusion helmet, many helmet configurations were able to be analyzed. Initially it was important to determine what design variables had an influence on the impact reducing abilities of the helmet design. The helmet was run through a series of Abaqus simulations that determined that a design with two oval shaped channels running along the length of the helmet was best. Next, these options were optimized to generate the helmet that produced the greatest impact reduction. The optimization simulations determined that a helmet that pushed the channels as far from the impact zone as possible reported the lowest acceleration. This indicated that removing the channels from play was most advantageous from an impact reduction perspective. Finally, a 3-D printed experimental helmet was impact tested and compared to a 3-D printed control helmet. The experimental helmet brought the channels back into the impact zone in order to judge if they had a physical effect on the acceleration. Both the simulations and the subsequent physical testing indicated that the Impact Diffusion Helmet design has a negative influence on the concussion reducing properties of a football helmet.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Warnert, Steven Paul"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"MS in Mechanical Engineering","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Mechanical Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Peter Schuster"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016-10-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2016-10-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:31:49Z","subjects":["Football","Helmet","FEA","Finite Element Analysis","Impact","Explicit FEA","Computer-Aided Engineering and Design"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["10.15368/theses.2016.143"],"render_values":[{"text":"10.15368/theses.2016.143","href":"https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2016.143","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1669","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Peter Schuster"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Warnert, Steven Paul"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2019-10-04T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Mechanical Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["MS in Mechanical Engineering"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Football","Helmet","FEA","Finite Element Analysis","Impact","Explicit FEA","Computer-Aided Engineering and Design"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1669","10.15368/theses.2016.143"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["By applying the finite element approach to the design and analysis of the impact diffusion helmet, many helmet configurations were able to be analyzed. Initially it was important to determine what design variables had an influence on the impact reducing abilities of the helmet design. The helmet was run through a series of Abaqus simulations that determined that a design with two oval shaped channels running along the length of the helmet was best. Next, these options were optimized to generate the helmet that produced the greatest impact reduction. The optimization simulations determined that a helmet that pushed the channels as far from the impact zone as possible reported the lowest acceleration. This indicated that removing the channels from play was most advantageous from an impact reduction perspective. Finally, a 3-D printed experimental helmet was impact tested and compared to a 3-D printed control helmet. The experimental helmet brought the channels back into the impact zone in order to judge if they had a physical effect on the acceleration. Both the simulations and the subsequent physical testing indicated that the Impact Diffusion Helmet design has a negative influence on the concussion reducing properties of a football helmet.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Design and Analysis of the Impact Diffusion Helmet Through a Finite Element Analysis Approach"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Peter Schuster"],"dc:creator":["Warnert, Steven Paul"],"dc:date.available":["2019-10-04T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["By applying the finite element approach to the design and analysis of the impact diffusion helmet, many helmet configurations were able to be analyzed. Initially it was important to determine what design variables had an influence on the impact reducing abilities of the helmet design. The helmet was run through a series of Abaqus simulations that determined that a design with two oval shaped channels running along the length of the helmet was best. Next, these options were optimized to generate the helmet that produced the greatest impact reduction. The optimization simulations determined that a helmet that pushed the channels as far from the impact zone as possible reported the lowest acceleration. This indicated that removing the channels from play was most advantageous from an impact reduction perspective. Finally, a 3-D printed experimental helmet was impact tested and compared to a 3-D printed control helmet. The experimental helmet brought the channels back into the impact zone in order to judge if they had a physical effect on the acceleration. Both the simulations and the subsequent physical testing indicated that the Impact Diffusion Helmet design has a negative influence on the concussion reducing properties of a football helmet.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1669","10.15368/theses.2016.143"],"dc:subject":["Football","Helmet","FEA","Finite Element Analysis","Impact","Explicit FEA","Computer-Aided Engineering and Design"],"dc:title":["Design and Analysis of the Impact Diffusion Helmet Through a Finite Element Analysis Approach"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Mechanical Engineering"],"thesis:degree_name":["MS in Mechanical Engineering"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:31:49Z"}