Enhancing helmet capabilities against ballistic threats via physics-based injury prediction

This federal Project Grant award from the Office of Naval Research (CFDA 12.300 - Basic and Applied Scientific Research) totaling $4,826,751.00 aims to enhance helmet capabilities against ballistic threats through physics-based injury prediction. The primary awardee, the University of Wisconsin System, is leading research to develop and integrate finite element head models with validated helmet models to simulate a wide range of ballistic loading conditions. The goal is to assess the risk of brain and skull injury to evaluate the ballistic performance of new helmet materials. The University of Wisconsin is collaborating with two sub-awardees, Robert Morris University and the Colorado School of Mines, to characterize composite shell materials and their impact properties to inform the injury prediction models. This research project, with a performance period from February 2024 to January 2028, seeks to advance naval helmet capabilities by leveraging expertise in materials science, finite element analysis, and injury biomechanics.