Modelling of the effectiveness of bicycle helmets under impact

A new approach to impact optimal design in bicycle helmets is presented. In this approach, the optimal design problem involving the comfort foam effect, global deformation of shell and local indentation is formulated on the basis of a mass–spring–damper–gap model. The impact model, the formulation for the impact response, the damping effect, and the effects of the physical gap, and the yield stress are described in detail. The predictions have shown good agreement with the experimental measurements.