Design development of a repeatable helmet test system for public order threat recreations

The prevalence of violence and blunt weaponry that Public Order (PO) officers are exposed to, place them at high risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recreating these injurious occurrences, to assess protective equipment performance, can be problematic due to issues of repeatability when experimentally recreating PO threats. This led to the design of a bespoke helmet impact system. Following review of current test methods, the chosen design was a low-friction drop tower, compatible with anthropometric headforms as cradled, rigidly mounted, or affixed with a surrogate neck. Finite Element and torque calculations were used to optimise load bearing components, whilst maintaining low mass and safety requirements. The final system permits impact conditions in range for PO threat recreations, as well as meeting the standard test criteria of all non-vehicular sports, public sector and construction application standard drop tests.