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Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 5475 – 5481

6th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2015) and the
Affiliated Conferences, AHFE 2015

Anthropometric Analysis of Human Head For Designing Ballistic

Helmets
Márcio. F. Catapan*, Maria Lucia L. R. Okimoto, SANTANA, Fabio. E. Santana, Caio
M. A. Silva, Yago W. Rodrigues
UFPR, Cel. Francisco H. Santos Av., 100 – Jardim das Américas, Curitiba –PR, 81531-980, Brazil

Abstract

Studies of the physical characteristics of man and their dimensional variations have interested researchers since antiquity. The
main measure of human head examined for the development of artifacts which protects it from possible accidents, is the
circumference. In the military area, studies report that approximately half of the deaths in the battlefields is due to projectiles
triggered in the soldier's head. However, other studies show that this artifact, after a few minutes in continuous use, it becomes
heavy and unstable for many users. That is, if proven that some soldiers do not use the helmet when necessary, it is because he
bothers. Therefore, the aim of this work to an anthropometric analysis of the human head by photogrammetry, in the region
where the ballistic helmet is set to verify that the method for selecting the helmet size may not be appropriate. Thus it was found
that statistically analyzed values are different, proving that the study artifact is not suitable for use in the battlefield for all users.
© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review underresponsibility
Peer-reviewunder responsibilityofof AHFE
AHFE Conference.
Conference

Keywords: ballistic helmet; anthropometric analysis; statistically; human head.

1. Introduction

The knowledge of the human head shape is essential information for a variety of fields including design,
medicine, anthropometry, among others [8, 10, 6]. The anthropometric differences of the head have been studied

* Corresponding author. Tel.: 0514184211065

E-mail address: marciocatapan@gmail.com

2351-9789 © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of AHFE Conference
doi:10.1016/j.promfg.2015.07.689
5476 Márcio. F. Catapan et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 5475 – 5481

among the various surveys and regions [2,4, 9, 17]. When dealing with anthropometric measurements of the head,
the patterns of these measures are referenced according to the ABNT NBR 15127[1] and DIN 33402 [6]. These are:
a-Circumference (horizontal perimeter of the head), b-width (distance greater front head), c-length (greatest distance
from the profile of the head) and cephalic index.

a) b) c)

Fig. 1. Measurements of the human head region. (Adapted from [1])

Adding to these first three shown in Figure 1, there is a question as to current studies of anthropometric
measurements of the head (cephalometry), which refers to the methods and tools being used. According to studies by
Alves et al. [2] measurements are made using equipment called flexible tape and anthropometric caliper, whose
uncertainty is in the house of millimeters. Analyzing the Figures 1, the question is: How do you know with precision
where the points are longer lengths of the width and length of the subject's head? Here one can notice a greater
uncertainty measures, which is why the current methods for anthropometric analysis of the human head can be better
defined.
Thus, the general objective of this work is to propose a method that identifies the height of the human head for
use ballistic helmets.
To achieve this goal, will be held:

• Current analyzes of the anthropometric measurements of the human head;

• Analyses and discussions of values for approval of the method and measures the heights observed;
• Experiment and statistical analysis of the human head.

2. Methodology

According to Iida [6] in the field of anthropometry there are tendencies of global standardization, though no
reliable anthropometric measurements for the world population. Most measures available is contingent of the armed
forces, because almost all refer to the measure of adult males in the 18 to 30 years. However, the factor that most
contributes to these measures differ from the measures of the global population, are the selection criteria adopted by
conscription, which exclude, for example, people below a certain height.

2.1 Combat Helmet

According to Alves [3], the combat helmet is also known as ballistic helmet being used in personal shield fighter,
following the standards of preparation and approval of the Brazilian Army Command. According to Samil and David
[16], ballistic helmet is a standard infantry equipment that provides ballistic protection from projectiles to the head,
ear and neck of the soldier. Moreover, these authors reports that the head and neck account for only 12 % of the
body area that is typically exposed in a battlefield. However receive up to 25 % of all views and nearly half of all
combat deaths are caused by head injuries.
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Thus, one might suspect that the ballistic helmets are not being used as often as they should in combat troops. A
starting point is to analyze whether this artifact is meeting their need to protect the soldier's head, while ensuring an
adequate comfort for usage situations.
The total mass (or weight) of installed combat helmets must meet the standards detailed in the Ministry of
Defence [12], by size, with a tolerance of plus or minus 10%. Table 1 shows these values of weight in relation to the
helmet size.

Table 1: Weight of helmets on the size [12].

SIZES
DESCRIPTION
S M L XL
Total mass of helmets (Kg) 1,30 1,40 1,50 1,70

Importantly, the mass of helmets, presented in Table 3, is statically. That is, in a situation where the user is in
movement, for example running, there is an increase in the force of gravity, generating a pressure / force greater than
the weight statically. According Samil and David [16], analyzing simulation done of a soldier running at a speed of 8
km/h (2.2 m/s) over a treadmill, after 180 seconds, the pressure it exerts on the helmet head arrives or 132.56 kPa to
1.3 kgf/m2. According to this author, the helmet has an internal area of 0.14 m2. Therefore, one can estimate that the
generated weight is approximately 182.06 N, ie considering gravity 9.81 m/s2, an additional mass is 18.56 kgF.
Also according Samil and David [16] in their study with 70 users of the ballistic helmet model PASGT, it was
found that the soldiers feel this added pressure in different regions of the head. The region that 55% of soldiers feel
more discomfort is the parietal region. That is, the top of the head.
Analyzing the Figures and Tables in this session, we attempted to analyze the rule governing such measures
PASGT Helmet of the Ministry of Defence [12]. Using the helmet design size "M" and, knowing the measurements
of the positions of fixations, as the chamois and the thicknesses of foam for protection, it is possible to identify other
measures the helmet with the use of CAD programs. These are shown in Figure 2, which shows the side view with
its main steps and made some highlighted by computational analyzes.

Fig. 2: Measurements of height PASGT Helmet. [19]

Looking at Figure 2, we note that an arch was designed to represent a useful outline of the human head in ballistic
helmet. Using an imaginary line of the fixing points of the headband on the helmet, it is possible to identify these
points for the collection of measurements. Thus, it appears that the height of the center support fixed to the top of
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the head to the center line of the head is approximately 68 mm for the PASGT helmet "M". For size "S" is the height
of 65,9mm and the "L" is 70,0mm.

3. Results

This methodology and its application is for anthropometric analysis of the human head for use in ballistic helmets
through of the photogrammetric.
For the selection of the samples are randomly selected men aged 18 to 34 years of any ethnicity, which is in
apparent normal conditions and that do not have lesions in the skull. For applications in ergonomics, 30 samples are
generally satisfactory (for example separately men and women) however this article will be used the anthropometric
analysis of the Catapan [19], which analyzed three groups of helmet sizes (S, M and L). According to the author, it
was necessary to measure 69 samples to obtain a confidence level of 95% accuracy.
For the study of this article an environment was built with a fixed containing device where a camera is installed,
three more supports for the person supporting the head and chin in the same position, as well as a chair for the
person seated. On the side and behind the person being examined was built a grid, which serves as a reference for
the future calibrate the image in the CAD program. Figure 3 illustrates this environment. The camera position is
equidistant from the sample and the grid, where always positioned at the middle of the head of the sample. These
details make fewer errors have different images, when used measurement through photography.

Fig. 3: Environment for photographic image capture.

Mullin and Taylor [13] Apud Klein [7] reported that morphological data collected through pictures are very
common. Roebuck [15] discusses the various methods of indirect collection by photography or videos.
For anthropometry study with photographs highlights the importance of care in the placement and orientation of
the camera. The common, highlights, is the placement of the camera perpendicular to a vertical plane with brands to
scale and photographed object. For anthropometric collections of body parts indicates that adaptations are developed
in the setting of camera positioning and object in order to undo mistakes of scale, in agreement with Meunier and
Yin [10], Apud Klein [7].
Figure 4 shows the profile of the subject image, which shows the value the length of your head. With this, you
can do the same measurement for the height of the human head in the use of ballistic helmets.
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Fig. 4.: Analysis of the picture to identify the head height

Note that the values shown in Figure 4 must be converted to the actual size. Thus, the value corresponding to
291.5 is 204.2mm and value of 125.7 was measure in real 88,1mm. Thus, the 256 samples were measured. The
means and their standard deviation can be seen in Table 2.

Table 2: Main dimensions of the human head for use of ballistic helmet [19]
MAN
MEASUREMENTS percentil
(mm)
2,5% 50% 97,5% StD
Width (front) 146,4 155,5 165,4 ±5,4
Length (profile) 184,9 194,0 205,4 ±5,6
Circunference 551,0 574,5 604,5 ±14,4
C.I. (cephalic index) 74,7 80,0 86,2 ±3,3
Head Height 78,6 94,2 107,8 ±7,2

It is noted that in Table 2, there is a new measurement which is the height of a human head for use ballistic
helmet. This measure had not yet been investigated and the study of Catapan [19], can be validated statistically
redeemer of a 95% confidence.
If you compare the anthropometric measurements of the ballistic helmet, PASGT model, it is known there is
some dimension of helmet that is compromising the ergonomics of users. Table 4 shows these measures. We notice
that the circumference values are divided into minimum and maximum values, this is due to the adjustment ballistic
helmets have to leave them more or less tight as you need it.

Table 3: Anthropometric internal measurements in relation to the PASGT helmet sizes. (Adapted from [12])
DESCRIPTION/SIZE HELMET SIZES(cm)
SIZE S M L
Width 16,0 16,0 17,0
Length 19,0 20,0 22,0
Minimum 47,0 50,0 54,0
Internal Circunference:
Maximum 52,0 56,0 59,0
Cephalic index helmel 84,21 80,0 77,27
Center Height 6,6 6,8 7,0
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Analyzing the data in Tables 2 and 3, there is a great difference between the average heights of the human head
and ballistic helmet, even for sizes S, M and L. Thus, this analysis is done separately for the three helmet sizes, as
can be seen in Figure 5.

Fig. 5. Normal distribution of heights of the head relative to the sizes S, M and L

Analyzing the graph of Figure 5 it can be seen that the average of the heights of human heads, the attachment
area ballistic helmet, is independent users to helmets S, M and L.
That is, any ballistic helmet user, where the height of the artifact will be smaller than the head. Just press the
user's head causing him pain.

5. Conclusion

In the study presented in this research was initially noted that to set the size of ballistic helmet for the user, is
basically used to measure the diameter of your head.
As described in the introduction, a new method for measuring human head was generated with anthropometric
values that have never been determined, as the size of the head region of the fastening ballistic helmet PASGT
model.
To confirm this study was to generate a statistical analysis, and set a sample value of 69 for each type helmet (S,
M and L). Then we used a recent survey in Brazil, the author Catapan (2014) where he was made an anthropometric
analysis by photogrammetry 256 samples.
Thus it was possible to identify the height of the human head, the helmet nesting region is smaller than the
helmet. This proves that the pains that the user has on the battlefield, is due to poor design of this artifact.

Acknowledgements

We thank the Program of Graduate Studies in Mechanical Engineering (PGMEC) of the UFPR - Brazil.

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