Citation

Sedman A, Hepper A. J. R. Army Med. Corps 2019; 165(1): 22-26.

Affiliation

Platform Systems Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, UK Royal Army Medical Corps)

DOI

10.1136/jramc-2017-000882

PMID

29559499

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This paper outlines aspects of UK Ministry of Defence's research and development of blast overpressure protection technologies appropriate for use in body armour, with the aim of both propagating new knowledge and updating existing information.

METHODS: Two simple models are introduced not only to focus the description of the mechanism by which the lungs can be protected, but also to provide a bridge between fields of research that may hold the key to further advances in protection technology and related body armour.

RESULTS: Protection can be provided to the lungs by decoupling the stress wave transmission into the thorax by managing the blast energy imparted through the protection system.

CONCLUSIONS: It is proposed that the utility of the existing 'simple decoupler' blast overpressure protection is reviewed in light of recent developments in the treatment of those sustaining both overpressure and fragment injuries. It is anticipated that further advances in protection technology may be generated by those working in other fields on the analogous technologies of 'buffer plates' and 'sandwich panels'.

© 2018 Crown copyright. All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Language: en

Keywords

blast; buffer plate; decoupler; lung; protection; sandwich panel