USAMRMC
Military
Operational
Medicine
Research
Program
Lab Locations and Capabilities
Environmental Medicine and Bioenergetics
| Biomechanics and Survival in Helicopter and Airborne Operations |
MOMRP Task Area: E
Problem
Army aviators use state-of-the-art protective helmets, yet head injury remains the leading cause of death in the Army helicopter crash environment. Exposure to high vertical loads continues to result in vertebral and aortic injuries. Even after surviving the crash impact, an aviator must then survive the post crash environment. In airborne operations, the Army’s large paratrooper population is at constant risk of head injury, yet minimal head impact protection is provided these high-risk soldiers. Even mild head impacts can impair a soldier’s ability to effectively perform a mission.
Medical Research Solution
Use epidemiological and animal injury studies, and advanced biomechanical modeling methods to establish a valid correlation between mechanical forces acting on the head and resulting injury.
Products
Biomedically based helmet design criteria to minimize the adverse effects of mechanical stress and impact on soldiers in aviation and airborne operations.
Last Update: April 2, 2003