Traumatic Brain Injury and Helmet Design
From: Science Progress - 10/24/2008
By: Andrew Plemmons Pratt

Recent research from scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
investigates the mechanics of how blasts affect the brain and may provide an
answer. Traditionally, armor design, including helmets, focused on minimizing
the force of impacts–either from objects striking the soldier or from the
soldier being thrown against hard surfaces. But the new study investigates
how shock waves from explosions can flex and deform the skull itself,
creating internal pressure on the soft brain tissue. Some current helmet
designs that maintain a gap between the skull and the helmet wall actually
amplify the pressure from blast waves. The research could lead to improved
helmet design that protects from projectiles, impacts, and blast waves. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/traumatic-brain-injury-and-helmet-design/

Links:
Recent research article
http://arxiv.org/abs/0809.3468

LLNL research reveals how blast waves may cause human brain injury even
  without direct head impacts 
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826152713.htm
https://publicaffairs.llnl.gov/news/news_releases/2009/NR-09-08-03.html
http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/llnl-research-reveals-how-blast-waves-may-cause-human-brain-injury-even-without-direct-head-impacts-24470.html