关键词: 防弹头盔, 泡沫材料, 剪切硬化胶, 弹道冲击, 有限元模拟

Abstract: Ballistic helmets are critical protective equipment designed to prevent soldiers from sustaining head injuries caused by ballistic and blast impacts. Among their components, the helmet cushioning system plays a vital role in mitigating damage effects from such impacts. To enhance the overall protective capability of head protection gear, this study introduces shear-stiffening gel (SSG) into ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam to develop a novel EVA/SSG cushioning foam liner. Using a ballistic impact testing platform and a simulated head model, ballistic impact tests were conducted on helmets equipped with conventional EVA and EVA/SSG foam liners. The study examined the temporal variations in surface pressure and head centroid acceleration during impact and performed finite element analysis of ballistic impacts. Experimental and numerical results demonstrated that the helmets equipped with EVA/SSG foam liners reduced the peak surface pressure and peak centroid acceleration of the head model by more than 20% under ballistic impact conditions, significantly decreasing the probability of head injury.

Key words: combat helmet, foam, shear stiffening gel, ballistic impact, finite element simulation