Numerical modeling of primary thoracic traumabecause of blast

ABSTRACT

Since explosive blasts continue to cause casualties in both civil and military environments, there is a need for an understanding of the mechanisms of blast trauma at the human organ level, plus a more detailed predictive methodology. The primary goal of this research was to develop a finite element model capable of predicting primary blast injury to the lung so as to assist in the development of personal protective equipment. Numerical simulation of thorax blast loading consisted of the following components 3D thorax modeling reconstruction, meshing and assembly of various thorax parts, blast and boundary loading, numerical solution, result extraction and data analysis. By comparing the models to published experimental data, local extent of injury in the lung was correlated to the peak pressure measured in each finite element, categorized as no injury [< 60 kPa], trace [60-100 kPa], slight [100-140 kPa], moderate [140-240 kPa] and severe [> 240 kPa]. It seemed that orienting the body at an angle of 45 degrees provides the lowest injury. The level and type of trauma inflicted on a human organ by a blast overpressure is related to many factors including blast characteristics, body orientation, equipment worn and the number of exposures to blast loading