Adaptive Head Protection using Rate-Activated Tethers
Highlights
A helmet suspension containing shear thickening fluid is designed and tested under conditions representative of head impacts.
The helmet suspension exhibits rate sensitive behavior, increasing in resistance to extension as impact velocity increases.
Impact accelerations for the rate sensitive suspension are ~50% lower than observed for a conventional suspension.
Model calculations reveal ideal suspension characteristics: a rate-sensitive force that is steady over large displacements.
Sketch. Measure. Fabricate. Test. Improve.
