Dynamic Back Face Deformation of a Combat Helmet Upon Oblique Impact of a 7.62X39 MM PS Projectile

Abstract

Body armour is the only protection a dismounted soldier has against the 7.62x39 mm rifle projectile threat. While body armour protects against such threats, weight limitations challenge helmet manufacturers to make a helmet withstand a direct rifle projectile impact. However, an oblique projectile impact on a helmet has the highest probability. This work promotes the 7.62x39 mm projectile ricochet off helmets to increase the likelihood of projectile deflection and the survivability of the wearer. Also, a deflected projectile causes severe deformation on the helmet shell. Optical measurement systems capture the deformation, and this data is transferred to numerical models. Numerically achieved BFD data in a LS-DYNA® Finite element (FE) head model is used to evaluate the blunt trauma using a head injury criteria (HIC) in the advanced SUFEHM model.