Investigating Pressure Wave Impact on a Surrogate Head Model Using Numerical Simulation Techniques

Abstract

There is an urgent need to understand the mechanism leading to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) resulting from blast wave impact to the head. The recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have heightened the awareness of head impact injuries to military personnel resulting from exposure to blast waves [1, 2]. A blast wave generated in air is a by-product of the detonation of an explosive [3]. To date the mechanism resulting in mTBI from primary blast insult is still unclear.