Dr. Stephanie Bonin presents A comparison of headforms used in rotational impact testing of helmets at the 2025 International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury (IRCOBI) European Conference taking place in Vilnius, Lithuania September 10–12, 2025.
Her short communication, co-authored with biomechanical specialist Madelen Fahlstedt and mechanical engineer Philip Singh, examines how headforms designed for rotational impacts respond to oblique impacts during helmet testing. Unlike linear helmet tests, where a helmeted headform is dropped vertically onto an anvil to assess the helmet’s impact attenuation, rotational testing uses an angled anvil to create an oblique impact that produces both linear and rotational forces, more similar to what occurs in real-world crashes. This study is part of Dr. Bonin’s broader initiative to evaluate how helmets’ anti-rotation systems can reduce the risk of head injury. She will present her findings on Friday, September 12, during the Short Communication session S2-9: Sports Injury.
MEA Forensic’s Director of Research, Dr. Gunter Siegmund, is also attending the conference. A member of the IRCOBI Council, Dr. Siegmund is chairing two sessions: one on volunteer testing and another on vulnerable road users, with a focus on cyclists.
Since 1973, IRCOBI has convened its annual European scientific conference to share the latest research on human tolerance to impact, drawing on field accident studies, experimental research, and insights from occupant protection systems. Its peer-reviewed proceedings are internationally recognized as a leading source of knowledge on impact biomechanics and crash injury studies.
The IRCOBI conference proceedings are available online.