title: Computational modeling of human head under blast in confined and open spaces: primary blast injury.
abstract: In this paper, a computational modeling for biomechanical analysis of primary blast injuries is presented. The responses of the brain in terms of mechanical parameters under different blast spaces including open, semi-confined, and confined environments are studied. In the study, the effect of direct and indirect blast waves from the neighboring walls in the confined environments will be taken into consideration. A 50th percentile finite element head model is exposed to blast waves of different intensities. In the open space, the head experiences a sudden intracranial pressure (ICP) change, which vanishes in a matter of a few milliseconds. The situation is similar in semi-confined space, but in the confined space, the reflections from the walls will create a number of subsequent peaks in ICP with a longer duration. The analysis procedure is based on a simultaneous interaction simulation of the deformable head and its components with the blast wave propagations. It is concluded that compared with the open and semi-confined space settings, the walls in the confined space scenario enhance the risk of primary blast injuries considerably because of indirect blast waves transferring a larger amount of damaging energy to the head.
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58108-6050, U.S.A.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezaei
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salimi Jazi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karami
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006257:Head / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: blast; brain injury; computational modeling; confined space; open space