An Investigation into the evaluation of Hockey Helmets

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Abstract
A testing apparatus and technique is described for the evaluation of the impact absorption characteristics of hockey helmets. Ten hockey helmets were tested. The test consisted of placing a hockey helmet on a wooden headform suspended from the ceiling by cables, and impacting the helmet and headform assembly by a pendulum at predetermined impact velocities. The effectiveness of a helmet was evaluated by measuring the peak acceleration, calculating the maximum kinetic energy absorbed, and considering the shape of the acceleration-time-curve obtained from a piezoelectric accelerometer embedded in the headform. It was demonstrated that the testing technique and apparatus was capable of detecting differences between one helmet and another, between one position and another position on the same helmet, and that the results were repeatable. It was suggested that three parameters be used for evaluating the protectiveness of a helmet. These are; the general shape of an acceleration-time-curve, the peak acceleration, and the maximum kinetic energy absorbed in the headform.

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