Simulation of Head Injuries with and without Helmets with Varied Volume Fractions of Porous Shells: A Computational Approach

Helmet design is the most significant parameter that can be improved to reduce head injury during impacts. Existing models of helmets depend on solid materials, giving protective strength yet rendering them heavy and less efficient in energy dissipation. In the present work, helmets having different volume fractions modeled via SolidWorks of porous shell structures are evaluated regarding head protection. Computational simulations are conducted using ANSYS to study how various levels of porosity affect the stress distribution and energy absorption under impact conditions. Our findings suggest that optimized porous shell helmets can significantly reduce stress concentrations on the skull, leading to a concomitant decrease in the risk of injury. This has provided insight valuable for developing lightweight, high-performance helmets and holds promise for future innovations in protective gear.