Model-Based Blast Injury Calculation Using Virtual Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blast gauges lack accuracy in determining blast loads on specific human organs and have limitations at lower blast pressures, making it difficult to assess and mitigate the effects of blast exposure on military personnel and civilians.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the reconstruction of a blast scene, using anatomical soldier models, virtual pressure sensors, and calculations of weapon signatures to determine peak overpressure, impulse, and organ-specific injury criteria, allowing for more accurate assessment of blast injuries and their mitigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current blast gauges are used to measure overpressure levels, then blast exposure data can be collected, but accurate determination of blast loads on specific human organs cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual replica of the blast scene using computational models. Virtual pressure sensors are positioned on a digital twin of the subject to simulate and calculate blast loads on specific organs. This copying approach allows accurate organ-specific blast load determination without requiring physical sensors at every organ location, thus improving measurement precision while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces computational algorithms and virtual modeling as intermediaries between the physical blast gauge measurements and the desired organ-specific blast load data. The system uses measured overpressure data as input to computational models that simulate blast wave propagation and calculate equivalent loads on internal organs, serving as a bridge between external measurements and internal organ exposure assessment.
2Measurement precision
If current blast gauges are used at lower blast pressures, then measurements can be taken, but accuracy is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary computational modeling and simulation to establish the relationship between external blast pressure and internal organ loads before actual blast events. By pre-calculating transfer functions and validation models through virtual simulations, the system can accurately interpret low-level blast gauge readings and convert them into reliable organ-specific blast load assessments, improving both precision and reliability at lower pressure levels.
3Measurement precision
If detailed organ-specific blast load calculation is implemented, then accurate injury assessment can be made, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the human body into distinct anatomical regions and organs (head, torso, ears, eyes, etc.) with dedicated virtual pressure sensors for each. This segmentation allows the computational system to calculate blast loads organ-by-organ using simplified transfer functions specific to each anatomical structure, making the complex calculation manageable by breaking it into smaller, specialized sub-calculations rather than one monolithic complex model.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of calculating blast injury metrics in a weapon training/IED blast scene can include: reconstructing topological layout of the scene having at least one real subject and a blast source; obtaining anthropometric and posture data for each real subject; obtaining anatomical soldier model for each real subject; identifying real position of at least one real pressure sensor on each soldier during a blast; positioning a virtual sensor on each anatomical soldier model to correspond with real pressure sensor on the real subject; calculating weapon signature of the blast source, the weapon signature including pressure versus time for a blast from the blast source; generating simulated pressure traces on each anatomical soldier model at east virtual pressure sensor; calculating blast injury metrics for the at least one real subject; and generating a report that includes the blast injury metrics for the at least one real subject.