Fast-Running Tools for Personalized Monitoring of Blast Exposure in Military Training and Operations
Andrzej Przekwas1, Harsha T Garimella1, Z J Chen1
1Bio Division, CFD Research Corp., Huntsville, AL 35806, USA.
Military Medicine
|January 27, 2021
Summary
Military personnel face cognitive risks from repetitive low-level blast exposure during heavy weapons training. A new framework accurately calculates blast exposure using sensor data, aiding in monitoring and mitigating these risks.
Area of Science:
- Military medicine
- Biomedical engineering
- Occupational health
Background:
- Repetitive low-level blast exposure from military training with explosives and heavy weapons is linked to cognitive deficits.
- These deficits, including memory and executive function impairments, resemble those seen in concussion injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel framework for accurately calculating human body blast exposure in military heavy weapon training scenarios.
- To utilize data from free-field and wearable pressure sensors for framework evaluation.
Main Methods:
- The CoBi human body model generator and CoBi Blast tools were employed to reconstruct training scenes and estimate blast overpressure.
- Data from free-field and wearable pressure sensors were used to validate the developed framework.
Main Results:
- The framework was demonstrated and validated using Carl-Gustav and 0.50 caliber sniper training scenarios.
- Simulations provide spatially and temporally resolved blast load calculations on the whole body and specific organs like the head, face, and lungs.
Conclusions:
- The framework offers advantages such as simplified model setup and reduced simulation times.
- This represents a significant advancement towards field-applicable technology for monitoring low-level blast exposure in military settings.
