Search Results (2)

Ballistic helmets are individual pieces of armor equipment designed to protect a soldier’s head from projectiles and fragments. Although very common, these helmets are responsible for several casualties due to their significant back face deformation and low ballistic resistance to projectiles. Therefore, to enhance helmet performance, studies have focused on the development of new materials and new ballistic protection solutions. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a new ballistic solution using thermoplastic-based matrices. The first matrix was based on high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The second matrix was based on HDPE modified with exfoliated montmorillonite (MMT). The main manufacturing processes of a thermoplastic-based ballistic helmet are presented, along with its ballistic performance, according to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard 0106.01 and an investigation of its failure mechanisms via a non-destructive technique. All the helmets resulted in level III-A ballistic protection. The postimpact helmets were scanned to evaluate the back face deformation dimensions, which revealed that the global cone deformation was deeper in the HDPE than in the HDPE/MMT helmet. The failure analysis revealed an overall larger deformation area in the HDPE and HDPE/MMT helmet delamination zones in the regions with a large radius of curvature than in the zones with the lowest radius, which is in accordance with previous simulations reported in the literature. Full article

This paper discusses the general conditions relating to ballistic head protection, analyzing the risks that may occur on contemporary battlefields. A thorough literature review has enabled us to present development trends for helmets used in the largest armies in the world. The authors have focused on impacts to the helmet shell, overloading the entire helmet-protected head–neck system. The main objective of this study is to investigate the protective capability of a helmet shell when subjected to projectile–helmet contact, with contact curvature taken as being an indicator of the impact energy concentration. Blunt head trauma was estimated using backface deformation (BFD). The Wz.93 combat helmet was used for testing. Analytically, dependencies were derived to determine the scope of BFD. A five-parameter model of the helmet piercing process was adopted, thus obtaining the optimal BFD range. Verification of theoretical considerations was carried out on a specially developed research stand. In the ballistic tests, dynamic deflection of the helmet’s body was registered using a speed camera. On the impact testing stand, a fragment of the helmet was pierced, producing results in the low impact velocity range. Data have been presented on the appropriate graph in order to compare them with values specified in the relevant standard and existing literature. Our results correlate well with the norm and literature values. Full article