The visceral response to underbody blast
File(s)
Author(s)
Pearce, Andrew Phillip
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Blast is the most common cause of injury and death in contemporary warfare. Blast
injuries may be categorised based upon their mechanism with underbody blast
describing the effect of an explosive device detonating underneath a vehicle. Torso
injuries are highly lethal within this environment and yet their mechanism in response
to underbody blast is poorly understood. This work seeks to understand the pattern and
mechanism of these injuries and to link them to physical underbody blast loading
parameters in order to enable mitigation and prevention of serious injury and death.
An analysis of the United Kingdom Joint Theatre Trauma Registry for underbody blast
events demonstrates that torso injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality from
such incidents. Mediastinal injury, including those trauma to the heart and thoracic great
vessels is shown confer the greatest lethality within this complex environment.
This work explores the need for a novel in vivo model of underbody loading in order to
explore the mechanisms of severe torso injury and to define the relationship between
the “dose” of underbody loading and resultant injury. The work includes the
development of a new rig which causes underbody blast analogous vertical accelerations
upon a seated rat model.
Injuries causes by this loading to both the chest and abdomen can be best predicted by
the examining the kinematic response of the torso to the loading. Axial compression of
the torso, a previously undescribed injury metric is shown to be the best predictor of
injury. The ability of these results to translate to a human model is explored in detail,
with focus upon the biomechanical rationale; that torso organ injuries occur through
both direct compression and shearing of tethering attachments.
Survivability of underbody blast could be improved by applying these principles to the
design and modification of seats, vehicles and posture.
injuries may be categorised based upon their mechanism with underbody blast
describing the effect of an explosive device detonating underneath a vehicle. Torso
injuries are highly lethal within this environment and yet their mechanism in response
to underbody blast is poorly understood. This work seeks to understand the pattern and
mechanism of these injuries and to link them to physical underbody blast loading
parameters in order to enable mitigation and prevention of serious injury and death.
An analysis of the United Kingdom Joint Theatre Trauma Registry for underbody blast
events demonstrates that torso injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality from
such incidents. Mediastinal injury, including those trauma to the heart and thoracic great
vessels is shown confer the greatest lethality within this complex environment.
This work explores the need for a novel in vivo model of underbody loading in order to
explore the mechanisms of severe torso injury and to define the relationship between
the “dose” of underbody loading and resultant injury. The work includes the
development of a new rig which causes underbody blast analogous vertical accelerations
upon a seated rat model.
Injuries causes by this loading to both the chest and abdomen can be best predicted by
the examining the kinematic response of the torso to the loading. Axial compression of
the torso, a previously undescribed injury metric is shown to be the best predictor of
injury. The ability of these results to translate to a human model is explored in detail,
with focus upon the biomechanical rationale; that torso organ injuries occur through
both direct compression and shearing of tethering attachments.
Survivability of underbody blast could be improved by applying these principles to the
design and modification of seats, vehicles and posture.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2018-10
Date Awarded
2019-02
Copyright Statement
Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial Licence
Advisor
Bull, Anthony
Clasper, Jonathan
Sponsor
Imperial College London
Publisher Department
Bioengineering
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)