Abstract
The performance of bicycle helmets was investigated in oblique impacts with a simulated road surface. The linear and rotational accelerations of a headform, fitted with a compliant scalp and a wig, were measured. The peak rotational accelerations, the order of 5 krad s-2 when the tangential velocity component was 4 m s-1, were only slightly greater than in comparable direct impact tests. Oblique impact tests were possible on the front lower edge of the helmet, a site commonly struck in crashes, without the headform striking the ‘road’. Data characterizing the frictional response at the road/shell and helmet/head interfaces, were generated for interpretation via FEA modelling. (Author/publisher)