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Estimating Passive Stress Acting on a Grain Entrapment Victim's Chest
Salah F Issa1, Carl Wassgren1, Charles V Schwab1
1Purdue University.
Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health
|September 19, 2018
Summary
Grain entrapment poses a breathing risk. New research shows passive stress during inhalation is much higher than previously thought, explaining why victims struggle to breathe.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Safety
- Biomechanics
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Grain entrapments are a significant hazard in the agricultural industry, with over 1,100 documented incidents.
- A critical concern is the victim's ability to breathe when entrapped, with conflicting anecdotal and experimental evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the passive stress experienced during inhalation against grain.
- To compare passive stress measurements with previously reported active stress measurements.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an MTS Criterion testing machine to apply horizontal force against a grain column.
- Recorded force and displacement data to calculate passive stress at varying depths.
Main Results:
- Measured passive stress ranged from 9.4 to 11.0 kPa at depths of 20-30 cm.
- These values are 3-4 times greater than previously reported active stress measurements at similar depths.
Conclusions:
- The higher passive stress during inhalation likely explains the discrepancy between anecdotal reports and prior experimental findings.
- Elevated chest pressures during grain entrapment can lead to breathing difficulties or asphyxiation.