Helmet aerodynamics

We provide comprehensive aerodynamic and thermal evaluation for helmet design and optimization. Our methodology begins with precise wireless adjustment of the mannequin's torso and head pitch angle, enabling highly repeatable posture control. This setup facilitates accurate measurement of both global drag, which reflects real-world performance, and local drag, which is often used for comparative helmet ranking. A key focus is quantifying the aerodynamic interaction between the torso and helmet, including the torso’s near-wake effect. Furthermore, our thermal mannequin head simulates physiological conditions such as scalp temperature, sweating rates, and hair to measure heat dissipation accurately. This integrated approach supplies critical data for optimizing ventilation layouts, internal airflow channels, and overall helmet performance.

Details refer to:

Hu, Z.; Cai, X. and Zhou, P. (2025). Impact of Physiological Characteristics on Thermal Comfort of Cycling Helmet. In Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support.