Finite element modeling framework for evaluating the efficacy of protective plates in minimizing organ and tissue damage resulting from a blast wave impact

Blast wave injuries are a main concern for first responders and other individuals at risk of exposure to explosions. Blast injury occurs when a pressure wave propagates through various densities resulting in changes in speed and the collapse and expansion of gas bubbles, causing tissue damage. Personal body armor, such as ballistic protective plates are standard lifesaving gear. To date, there is no objective, standardized, quantitative and cost-effective method for rapid testing of protective plates in the context of blast wave. In this manuscript, we present an anatomically-realistic finite element framework for evaluating the effectiveness of protective plates in shielding organs and tissues from blast impacts. Two plate types were modeled, representing generic designs of threat-level III and IV plates (according to NIJ Standard–0101.06). The CONWEP model was used to simulate an explosion of 5 kg TNT, 10 m from the center of the chest. The analyses of strains and stresses over time yielded higher values in the tissues behind the level-IV plate compared to level-III (e.g., for the skin beneath the plate, peak values of mean strains and stresses were 62 % and 67 % greater than that of level-III, respectively, indicating that the thicker and heavier plate induce greater strains and stresses post an explosion, whereas superficial and soft tissues were affected to a greater extent. Our model offers a flexible assessment strategy, guiding BPP stakeholders from the inception of prototype design and pre-production evaluation to standardized assessments, empowering them to make informed purchasing decisions.