PRESS RELEASE
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Team Wendy, a number one supplier of modern head safety programs, introduced on the current Private Armour Methods Symposium (PASS) held in Bruges, Belgium, the place firm researchers shared new findings on DREW (Dummy for Rotational Analysis of Wearables), together with a paper printed within the proceedings. Aiming to advance helmet testing from conventional linear drops to embody rotational occasions, Crew Wendy is on a mission to vary the way in which the business measures head impacts.
Who’s DREW?
Developed by Crew Wendy, DREW is a biofidelic (behaves just like the human physique) helmet-test rig constructed to simulate actual head-to-ground falls and seize each linear and rotational head movement (one thing legacy linear-drop assessments miss). It makes use of a Fiftieth-percentile Hybrid-III head, neck and torso on a pivoting meeting to recreate entrance, rear and facet impacts, in addition to to check each head-direct and whiplash-induced occasions.
“We need to measure how the mind responds to advanced impacts, in ways in which we nonetheless don’t perceive nicely sufficient, so we are able to inform higher merchandise and requirements going ahead,” mentioned Ron Szalkowski, head of R&D at Crew Wendy and co-author of the PASS paper. “DREW helps transfer that dialog past linear drops to the rotational forces related to concussion and different types of traumatic mind harm (TBI).”
What Crew Wendy found
The PASS paper in contrast Crew Wendy’s normal EXFIL Ballistic helmet liner to a high-density foam ballistic liner tuned for DOT/monorail drops (the place the helmeted head type is guided straight down onto an anvil at comparatively excessive influence speeds). Utilizing DREW in a rear, whiplash-induced configuration, in addition to a entrance, direct influence configuration, the froth ballistic liner produced greater head masses (peak linear and angular acceleration) with no significant discount in peak angular velocity.
“The froth liner was related to extra jolting to the pinnacle, each straight-on and in a twisting movement,” Szalkowski mentioned. “Consider it like tuning a automotive’s efficiency on a treadmill, solely to be taught that it struggles with bumps and turns within the street. The hazard is {that a} helmet design can look good on paper, however elevated rigidity, as an illustration, doesn’t essentially allow you to in an actual fall.”
The PASS poster additionally confirmed how DREW can mimic an actual parachute touchdown. Researchers used sensor knowledge from mouthguards worn by paratroopers to check the rotational dynamics linked to concussion-inducing, head-to-ground impacts. Then they tuned the rig (adjusting the drop angle and whiplash distance) till DREW matched the information inside 4%.
“This provides our engineers a sensible goal to design helmets in opposition to, and it might go as far as to tell future revisions to check procedures and efficiency standards,” Szalkowski added.
Headstrong for security
Crew Wendy’s initiatives at PASS showcase a profound dedication to complete, peer-reviewed analysis that raises the benchmarks for head safety. Based mostly on these insights, the corporate is advancing with DREW evaluations throughout totally different helmet classes and is supplying knowledge to assist requirements growth efforts in partnership with tutorial and governmental entities. To request the PASS paper and poster, please attain out to Sara Jonas, world director of selling, at sjonas@teamwendy.com. The paper can be out there through PASS proceedings.
This materials is based on analysis funded by the U.S. Workplace of Naval Analysis via PANTHER award quantity N00014-21-1-2916. Crew Wendy expresses gratitude to the companions at Robert Morris College for his or her contributions to FEA modeling and for the RISE3D harm metric utilized in DREW research.
About Crew Wendy
Crew Wendy, a part of the Avon Applied sciences PLC group of manufacturers, supplies distinctive head safety programs designed from the within out for many who threat their lives each day. Based in 1997, the Cleveland-based firm locations a robust give attention to the prevention of traumatic mind harm (TBI) in honor of the corporate’s namesake Wendy Moore, who died tragically from a TBI following a ski accident.
As a number one provider of helmet programs for navy, legislation enforcement, search and rescue, and journey sports activities, Crew Wendy is steadfast in its dedication to enhancing head safety analysis, design and growth, bringing extra selection, higher know-how and dependable customer support to the business.
Be taught extra at www.TeamWendy.com.
