D-HAT: A Diatom-Inspired Structure for a Helmet Concept Against Trauma

Helmets are critical for minimizing the risk of traumatic brain injuries in road accidents and sports. Traditional designs feature a rigid outer shell and a deformable inner liner of foam for energy absorption. Recent advancements have introduced architected materials as alternatives to conventional foams, offering improved safety and multifunctionality. Herein, a diatom-inspired architected material optimized for energy absorption in helmet liners is proposed and designed for a new concept of multifunctional helmets. The material is modeled using CAD tools, its performance is evaluated through finite element analysis and quasistatic compression tests on 3D-printed elastomeric samples, and parametric optimization is applied. The results demonstrate energy absorption comparable to conventional materials, laying the groundwork for future studies on fluid-dynamic behavior and multifunctional helmet designs.