We offer modern, high quality testing labs.
CHIP Laboratory
The Clemson Headgear Impact Performance (CHIP) Laboratory, located in Newman Hall within the SONOCO Transport Package Testing Laboratory, is dedicated to cutting-edge research in areas related to brain mechanics, headgear design and testing, motion capture, and injury biomechanics. Led by Dr. John DesJardins (Bioengineering) and Dr. Gregory Batt (Packaging Sciences), the CHIP Laboratory collaborates with a team of PhD, Master’s, and Undergraduate students to conduct awarded and published research.
Linear Impactor
The linear impactor is a machine designed to simulate severe impact scenarios with precise prescription of loading conditions. It allows for consistent testing to improve comparison between impacts and headgear. Equipped with the Hybrid III Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) head form and neck, the Linear Impactor in the CHIP Laboratory can measure linear accelerations, rotational velocities, and calculate angular accelerations through kinematic equations.
Data Acquisition System
The CHIP Laboratory utilizes a 6aw accelerometer array from Diversified Technical Solutions (DTS) as part of its Data Acquisition System (DAQ). The system includes single-axis and triaxial linear accelerometers, as well as a triaxial angular velocity sensor. Kinematic relationships are employed to calculate primary injury metrics, such as rotational accelerations, for a more comprehensive analysis of headgear performance.
Hybrid III ATD Head form and Neck
The Hybrid III ATD is an industry-standard device used to simulate the 50th percentile male head. It provides a standardized head form and neck for testing headgear performance and impact response.
Twin-wire Drop Tower
The Twin-wire Drop Tower is an essential piece of headgear testing equipment, allowing for standard testing protocols as specified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). It can impact the NOCSAE head form from variable heights and orientations, ensuring safety certifications of new helmets, facemasks, and reconditioned facemasks.
NOCSAE Head form
The NOCSAE head form is an industry-standard head form specifically used for athletic equipment testing standards. It provides a standardized platform for evaluating the impact performance of headgear systems.
Satec (Instron) Materials Testing Machine
The Satec Materials Testing Machine in the CHIP Laboratory has been adapted with custom fixturing to test the structural and material properties, specifically the structural stiffness, of football facemasks. This machine utilizes a validated and published method to assess the performance characteristics of facemasks.
Dynamic Materials Testing Machine (Cushion Tester)
The CHIP Laboratory is equipped with an ASTM-compliant cushion testing machine that can evaluate the dynamic performance characteristics of materials, particularly foams. This machine allows for the assessment of coefficients of restitution and impact duration, providing insights into the dynamic behavior of football facemasks.
i-Speed3 High Speed Camera
The i-Speed3 high-speed camera is capable of capturing videos at a rate of 150,000 frames per second. It is used in the CHIP Laboratory to review and analyze impacts from the linear impactor, twin-wire drop tower, and cushion tester, providing valuable visual information alongside kinematic data.
