Mitigation of Blast Injuries through Modeling and Simulation Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Topic No.: N101-001 Topic Title: Mitigation of Blast Injuries through Modeling and Simulation Proposal No.: N101-001-0659 Firm: Reaction Engineering International 77 West 200 South, Suite 210 Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 Contact: David Swensen Phone: (801) 364-6925 Web Site: www.reaction-eng.com Abstract: With the current state of world events, the threat of buried explosives used against military vehicles is more pronounced than ever before. The introduction of the MRAP and MTVR vehicles have helped mitigate this threat to a degree, but military personnel continue to suffer from both death and serious bodily injury as a result of IED/mine explosions. To address this need, improved comprehensive simulation capabilities are needed to help design improved safety components for vehicle occupants. The proposed effort, which builds on previous work performed under US Army funding, will develop next-generation simulation capabilities to better predict the effects of buried explosives on ground vehicles and occupants. Blast and soil modeling will be performed using advanced simulation tools developed as part of the DoE ASCI program at the University of Utah and the vehicles will be modeled with the LS-DYNA FE code. Occupant modeling will be performed using LS-DYNA for the Phase I. The final product of the Phase I will be a macro-coupled MPMICE-LS-DYNA model, which leverages the best capabilities of each simulation tool. Future phases of the project would involve micro-coupling MPMICE and LS-DYNA and developing supporting advanced 3D design tools for placing and evaluating occupant safety components. Benefits: This project will provide the U.S. Navy and contractor personnel with a powerful tool for improved evaluation of blast effects from buried explosive devices on occupants of tactical ground vehicles. This technology will link blast events to vehicle design and blast-induced injuries, guiding improved designs to enhance crew safety. Results from such numerical studies can aid not only in the design and evaluation of tactical ground vehicles and countermine equipment, but also in the investigation of explosives ordinance disposal (EOD) and personal protection issues. In addition to military applications, this modeling capability also would benefit a wide spectrum of civilian security and safety challenges. Potential applications include minefield cleanup, bomb squad and ordinance disposal operations, enhanced building design for homeland security, and mitigation of injuries caused by commercial and private vehicle crashes and rollovers. Return