Citation

Clark JM, Connor T, Post A, Hoshizaki TB, Ní Annaidh A, Gilchrist MD. J. Biomech. Eng. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, 200 Lees Ave., room A106, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Society of Mechanical Engineers)

DOI

10.1115/1.4045403

PMID

31701123

Abstract

The performance of equestrian helmets to protect against brain injuries caused by fall impacts against compliant surfaces such as turf has not been studied widely. We characterise the kinematic response of simulated fall impacts to turf through field tests on horse racetracks and laboratory experiments. The kinematic response characteristics and ground stiffness at different Going Ratings (standard measurement of racetrack condition) were obtained from 1m and 2m drop tests of an instrumented hemispherical impactor onto a turf racetrack. The 'Hard' rating resulted in higher peak linear accelerations and stiffness, and shorter impact durations than the 'Soft' and 'Heavy' ratings. Insignificant differences were found among the other Going Ratings, but a strong overall relationship was evident between the 'Going Rating' and the kinematic response. This relationship was used to propose a series of three synthetic foam anvils as turf surrogates in equestrian falls corresponding to ranges of Going Ratings of (i) Heavy-Soft, (ii) Good-Firm, and (iii) Firm-Hard. Laboratory experiments consisted of a helmeted headform being dropped onto natural turf and the turf surrogate anvils using a monorail drop rig. These experiments revealed that the magnitudes and durations of the linear and rotational accelerations for helmeted impacts to turf/turf surrogates were similar to those in concussive sports falls and collisions. Since the compliance of an impacted surface influences the dynamic response of a jockey's head during a fall impact against the ground, it is important that this is considered during both accident reconstructions and helmet certification tests.

Copyright (c) 2019 by ASME.

Language: en