Department of MME, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2 L 3G1, Canada.
J Biomech Eng. 2024 Mar 1;146(3). doi: 10.1115/1.4063273.
Behind armor blunt trauma (BABT), resulting from dynamic deformation of protective ballistic armor into the thorax, is currently assessed assuming a constant threshold of maximum backface deformation (BFDs) (44 mm). Although assessed for multiple impacts on the same armor, testing is focused on armor performance (shot-to-edge and shot-to-shot) without consideration of the underlying location on the thorax. Previous studies identified the importance of impacts on organs of animal surrogates wearing soft armor. However, the effect of impact location was not quantified outside the threshold of 44 mm. In the present study, a validated biofidelic advanced human thorax model (50th percentile male) was utilized to assess the BABT outcome from varying impact location. The thorax model was dynamically loaded using a method developed for recreating BABT impacts, and BABT events within the range of real-world impact severities and locations were simulated. It was found that thorax injury depended on impact location for the same BFDs. Generally, impacts over high compliance locations (anterolateral rib cage) yielded increased thoracic compression and loading on the lungs leading to pulmonary lung contusion (PLC). Impacts at low compliance locations (top of sternum) yielded hard tissue fractures. Injuries to the sternum, ribs, and lungs were predicted at BFDs lower than 44 mm for low compliance locations. Location-based injury risk curves demonstrated greater accuracy in injury prediction. This study quantifies the importance of impact location on BABT injury severity and demonstrates the need for consideration of location in future armor design and assessment.
背后装甲钝器伤（BABT）是由于防护性弹道装甲动态变形进入胸腔而造成的，目前的评估假设最大背面变形（BFD）的恒定阈值（44mm）。虽然评估了对同一装甲的多次冲击，但测试侧重于装甲性能（射击边缘和射击之间），而不考虑胸腔的潜在位置。以前的研究已经确定了在动物替代物上穿着软装甲的器官冲击的重要性。然而，在 44mm 阈值之外，尚未对冲击位置的影响进行量化。在本研究中，使用经过验证的仿生高级人体胸腔模型（第 50 百分位男性）来评估从不同冲击位置产生的 BABT 结果。使用为再现 BABT 冲击而开发的方法对胸腔模型进行动态加载，并模拟了真实世界冲击严重程度和位置范围内的 BABT 事件。结果发现，对于相同的 BFDs，胸腔损伤取决于冲击位置。通常，在高顺应性位置（前外侧肋骨笼）上的冲击会导致胸腔压缩和肺部负荷增加，从而导致肺挫伤（PLC）。在低顺应性位置（胸骨顶部）上的冲击会导致硬组织骨折。对于低顺应性位置，预测 BFD 低于 44mm 时会发生胸骨、肋骨和肺部损伤。基于位置的损伤风险曲线在损伤预测方面具有更高的准确性。本研究量化了冲击位置对 BABT 损伤严重程度的重要性，并表明需要在未来的装甲设计和评估中考虑位置。
