A cellulosic fibre foam as a bicycle helmet impact liner for brain injury mitigation in oblique impacts
Bulky cellulosic network structures (BRC) with densities between 60 and 130 g/l were investigated as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based foams for impact liners in bicycle helmets. The mechanical properties of BRC foams were characterized across a wide range of strain rates and incorporated in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024168211 |
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| author | Florian Feist Markus Wagner Georg Baumann Stefan Spirk Veronika Biegler Qixiang Jiang Tiina Nypelö |
| author_facet | Florian Feist Markus Wagner Georg Baumann Stefan Spirk Veronika Biegler Qixiang Jiang Tiina Nypelö |
| author_sort | Florian Feist |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bulky cellulosic network structures (BRC) with densities between 60 and 130 g/l were investigated as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based foams for impact liners in bicycle helmets. The mechanical properties of BRC foams were characterized across a wide range of strain rates and incorporated into a validated finite element model of a hardshell helmet. Virtual impact tests simulating both consumer information and certification scenarios were conducted to compare BRC-lined helmets against conventional expanded polystyrene (EPS) designs. Results showed that BRC outperformed EPS in oblique impacts, reducing angular accelerations and velocity changes by approximately 33 %, particularly for z-axis rotations. The average risk of sustaining AIS2 injuries and concussions was lower for BRC (8 % and 34 % respectively) compared to EPS (13 % and 46 %). However, BRC helmets exhibited bottoming out in certain straight impacts, potentially failing certification tests. This limitation was addressed through design modifications. The study demonstrates that cellulosic fibre network structures have the potential to replace fossil-based foams in bicycle helmets while providing adequate protection and improved performance in mitigating rotational forces. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9c78a829171b471d87e3569abca1018a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj-art-9c78a829171b471d87e3569abca1018a2025-01-17T04:49:46ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e40790A cellulosic fibre foam as a bicycle helmet impact liner for brain injury mitigation in oblique impactsFlorian Feist0Markus Wagner1Georg Baumann2Stefan Spirk3Veronika Biegler4Qixiang Jiang5Tiina Nypelö6Graz University of Technology, Vehicle Safety Institute, Crashworthy Biobased Composites, Inffeldgasse 13, 8010 Graz; Corresponding author.Graz University of Technology, Vehicle Safety Institute, Crashworthy Biobased Composites, Inffeldgasse 13, 8010 GrazGraz University of Technology, Vehicle Safety Institute, Crashworthy Biobased Composites, Inffeldgasse 13, 8010 GrazGraz University of Technology, Institute for Bioproducts and Paper Technology, Inffeldgasse 23, 8010 GrazUniversity of Vienna, Institute of Materials Chemistry and Research, Währinger Straße 42, 1090 Vienna, AustriaUniversity of Vienna, Institute of Materials Chemistry and Research, Währinger Straße 42, 1090 Vienna, AustriaChalmers University of Technology, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Kemivägen 10, 41296 Gothenburg; Aalto University, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150 EspooBulky cellulosic network structures (BRC) with densities between 60 and 130 g/l were investigated as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based foams for impact liners in bicycle helmets. The mechanical properties of BRC foams were characterized across a wide range of strain rates and incorporated into a validated finite element model of a hardshell helmet. Virtual impact tests simulating both consumer information and certification scenarios were conducted to compare BRC-lined helmets against conventional expanded polystyrene (EPS) designs. Results showed that BRC outperformed EPS in oblique impacts, reducing angular accelerations and velocity changes by approximately 33 %, particularly for z-axis rotations. The average risk of sustaining AIS2 injuries and concussions was lower for BRC (8 % and 34 % respectively) compared to EPS (13 % and 46 %). However, BRC helmets exhibited bottoming out in certain straight impacts, potentially failing certification tests. This limitation was addressed through design modifications. The study demonstrates that cellulosic fibre network structures have the potential to replace fossil-based foams in bicycle helmets while providing adequate protection and improved performance in mitigating rotational forces.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024168211CellulosePulpNetwork-structureSplit-Hopkinson barBicycle-helmetEN1078 |
| spellingShingle | Florian Feist Markus Wagner Georg Baumann Stefan Spirk Veronika Biegler Qixiang Jiang Tiina Nypelö A cellulosic fibre foam as a bicycle helmet impact liner for brain injury mitigation in oblique impacts Heliyon Cellulose Pulp Network-structure Split-Hopkinson bar Bicycle-helmet EN1078 |
| title | A cellulosic fibre foam as a bicycle helmet impact liner for brain injury mitigation in oblique impacts |
| title_full | A cellulosic fibre foam as a bicycle helmet impact liner for brain injury mitigation in oblique impacts |
| title_fullStr | A cellulosic fibre foam as a bicycle helmet impact liner for brain injury mitigation in oblique impacts |
| title_full_unstemmed | A cellulosic fibre foam as a bicycle helmet impact liner for brain injury mitigation in oblique impacts |
| title_short | A cellulosic fibre foam as a bicycle helmet impact liner for brain injury mitigation in oblique impacts |
| title_sort | cellulosic fibre foam as a bicycle helmet impact liner for brain injury mitigation in oblique impacts |
| topic | Cellulose Pulp Network-structure Split-Hopkinson bar Bicycle-helmet EN1078 |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024168211 |
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