D‐HAT: A Diatom‐Inspired Structure for a Helmet Concept Against Trauma

Helmets are critical for minimizing the risk of traumatic brain injuries in road accidents and sports. Traditional designs feature a rigid outer shell and a deformable inner liner of foam for energy absorption. Recent advancements have introduced architected materials as alternatives to conventional...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ludovico Musenich, Lorenzo Strozzi, Massimiliano Avalle, Flavia Libonati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Advanced Intelligent Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202400419
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Summary:Helmets are critical for minimizing the risk of traumatic brain injuries in road accidents and sports. Traditional designs feature a rigid outer shell and a deformable inner liner of foam for energy absorption. Recent advancements have introduced architected materials as alternatives to conventional foams, offering improved safety and multifunctionality. Herein, a diatom‐inspired architected material optimized for energy absorption in helmet liners is proposed and designed for a new concept of multifunctional helmets. The material is modeled using CAD tools, its performance is evaluated through finite element analysis and quasistatic compression tests on 3D‐printed elastomeric samples, and parametric optimization is applied. The results demonstrate energy absorption comparable to conventional materials, laying the groundwork for future studies on fluid‐dynamic behavior and multifunctional helmet designs.
ISSN:2640-4567