Design of Helmet for Thermal comfort

Description

In current scenario, because of rapidly growing population, traffic profusion and lack of parking space, two wheelers have become the most common mode of transportation. According to Indian traffic rules, it has been made mandatory to wear helmet for safety of the rider while riding two wheeler. To provide protection to the rider, helmets are assimilated with lightweight plastic exterior and a safeguarding polystyrene layer. But in summer, especially in tropical climatic conditions, like in India, it is very difficult to wear helmet due to high rise in temperature for longer duration. The reason for this increase in temperature is the lack of proper ventilation which increases the stress levels of the rider. Hence there is an essential need of the helmet which meets the requirement of sufficient ventilation to provide thermal comfort for the rider.

In this project work an attempt has been made to design a two wheeler helmet for improved thermal comfort. Motor cycle helmet is designed conceptually, integrating features for enhanced thermal comfort. Steady state airflow simulation was carried out on the interior of the helmet with a head form of rider to determine the temperature distribution, air flow pattern and variation in pressure and velocity inside the helmet. It is observed that the helmet with vents provide a improved cooling over the head than the helmet without any vent.

CAD Model

Simulation

The helmet with vents is simulated over SOLIDWORKS and it can be seen from the temperature profiles in figure below that temperature of the mannequin head varied from 299°C to 306 °C, moreover a significant temperature drop of 6°C is observed over the areas on head because of flow of air inside the helmet through vents.