Primary blast wave protection in combat helmet design: A historical comparison between present day and World War I.

ABSTRACT: Since World War I, helmets have been used to protect the head in warfare, designed primarily for protection against artillery shrapnel. More recently, helmet requirements have included ballistic and blunt trauma protection, but neurotrauma from primary blast has never been a key concern in helmet design. Only in recent years has the threat of direct blast wave impingement on the head-separate from penetrating trauma-been appreciated. This study compares the blast protective effect of historical (World War I) and current combat helmets, against each other and 'no helmet' or bare head, for realistic shock wave impingement on the helmet crown. Helmets included World War I variants from the United Kingdom/United States (Brodie), France (Adrian), Germany (Stahlhelm), and a current United States

SUBMITTER: Op 't Eynde J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7018002 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature