title: A methodology for assessing blast protection in explosive ordnance disposal bomb suits.
abstract: To reduce human casualties associated with explosive ordnance disposal, a wide range of protective wear has been designed to shield against the blast effects of improvised explosive devices and munitions. In this study, 4 commercially available bomb suits, representing a range of materials and armor masses, were evaluated against 0.227 and 0.567 kg of spherical C-4 explosives to determine the level of protection offered to the head, neck, and thorax. A Hybrid III dummy, an instrumented human surrogate [1], was tested with and without protection from the 4 commercially available bomb suits. 20 tests with the dummy torso mounted to simulate a kneeling position were performed to confirm repeatability and robustness of the dummies, as well as to evaluate the 4 suits. Correlations between injury risk assessments based on past human or animal injury model data and various parameters such as bomb suit mass, projected area, and dummy coverage area were drawn.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA.
authors.forename: Cameron R Dale
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.forename: Cameron Dale
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rafaels
authors.forename: Mark Steve
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rountree
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Ellory
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Andrefsky
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: DiMarco
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zielinski
mesh_terms: D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000517:prevention & control; D005107:Explosions; D005389:Firearms; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D008889:Military Personnel; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011482:Protective Devices; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D023481:Terrorism; D013898:Thoracic Injuries