1. Head Restraint for Race Car Drivers
Aim Jirut and Asif Lala
Advised by:
Drs. Paul King and Jackson Roberts

2. Background
13 out of Indy Car Major Deceleration Crashes were Front Impact Collisions.
Peak Decelerations Ranged from 20 to 110 Gs
--note: these crashes were during racing
Those with Peak Decelerations of greater than 40 Gs suffered concussions.
From Melvin et al

3. Biomechanics of the Problem
Parameters (Max)
Weight of Head: 8.2% Body Weight = 13lbs or 5.9 kg
Weight of Helmet: 3 lbs or 1.4 kg
Maximum Speed of Race Car: 230mph or 103 m/s
Time of Duration of Impact: 0.04s

4. Biomechanics (cont.) F=ma F= (1.4 + 5.9)kg * (103m/s) 0.04s
F = 7.3 kg * 2575 m/s <= 262 Gs
F = 18,797 N or 4,226 lbf

5. Importance
F = 18,797 N
From Nahum and Smith

6. Project Idea Shock Absorbing Lanyard Attached from Helmet to Row Bar
From

7. Role of the Lanyard Parameters using Lanyard
Force Needed to Initiate Tearing = 600 lbf (x2) = 5338 N Weight of Head: 8.2% Body Weight = 13lbs or 5.9 kg
Weight of Helmet: 3 lbs or 1.4 kg
Maximum Speed of Race Car: 230mph or 103 m/s
Time of Duration of Impact: 0.04s

8. Force Calculation F=ma 5338 N = (1.4 + 5.9)kg * a a = 731 m/s2
Therefore,
v = 731 m/s2 * 0.04 s
v= 29.2 m/s = 65 mph

9. Lanyard Importance
F= 5,338 N
From Nahum and Smith

10. Past Work Calculated Initial Force Equations
Completed an Economic Analysis ($300)
- Helmet ~ $150
- Lanyard (x2) ~ $60 each
- Easy Release Mechanism ~ $30
Proposed Project Design

11. Current Lanyard
Awaiting Schematics and Parameters of the Different Lanyards.
Calculate Remaining Force Equations
ex) max tension of lanyard, exerted
force due to destruction of material
Find an Easy Escape Mechanism

12. Future Work (thru March)
Sketch Schematics of the Project Design
Order Helmet and Lanyard
Build Prototype

13. Final Remarks Please visit our website at -password protection works!!
-password protection works!!
For further reference:
Twentieth and 42nd Stapp Car Crash Conference Notes