Injury representation against ballistic threats using three novel numerical models

Abstract

Injury modelling of ballistic threats is a valuable tool for informing policy on personal protective equipment and other injury mitigation methods. Currently, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) are focusing on the development of three interlinking numerical models, each of a different fidelity, to answer specific questions on current threats. High-fidelity models simulate the physical events most realistically, and will be used in the future to test the medical effectiveness of personal armour systems. They are however generally computationally intensive, slow running and much of the experimental data to base their algorithms on do not yet exist. Medium fidelity models, such as the personnel vulnerability simulation (PVS), generally use algorithms based on physical or engineering estimations of interaction. This enables a reasonable representation of reality and greatly speeds up runtime allowing full assessments of the entire body area to be undertaken. Low-fidelity models such as the human injury predictor (HIP) tool generally use simplistic algorithms to make injury predictions. Individual scenarios can be run very quickly and hence enable statistical casualty assessments of large groups, where significant uncertainty concerning the threat and affected population exist. HIP is used to simulate the blast and penetrative fragmentation effects of a terrorist detonation of an improvised explosive device within crowds of people in metropolitan environments. This paper describes the collaboration between MoD and CPNI using an example of all three fidelities of injury model and to highlight future areas of research that are required.

Peacekeepers suffered combat-related injuries in Mali: a retrospective, descriptive study

“…According to the AIS and ISS score, most of the peacekeepers suffered minor injuries. Some papers found people taking protective measures that had a lower risk of serious injury 13–16. Masses of minor injuries may be associated with the compulsory use of helmets, shrapnel protection jackets and armoured vehicles for peacekeepers who carried out a task outside.…”

Using 3D printing to fabricate realistic test projectiles for natural fragmentation from buried charges

“…This introduces error as the obturator is not part of the projectile being tested. Kinetic energy has a significant effect on damage causation in accelerated projectiles [4,25]. However, the elastomer coating allowed for a projectile that terminated on a sheet of Kevlar as a single object (Fig.…”

“…The US military specifies that cold-rolled, annealed steel shall be used to manufacture FSPs with specific diameters to represent 0.22 Caliber (5.6 mm), 0.33 Caliber (8.4 mm), 0.5 Caliber (12.7 mm), and 20 mm projectiles [2]. Although attempts have been made to standardize fragmentation testing by defining standard alloys and diameters, almost all FSPs are made from metal [3][4][5][6]. These metallic FSPs do not replicate the fragmentation that is accelerated from a buried IED.…”

Commentary on: Assessment method of bullet effectiveness based on a human vulnerability model

“…The paper describes how they have developed a voxel model to compare the potential effectiveness of different bullet types 1. Of greater importance to readers of a military medical journal is the potential for such models to optimise the development of personal armour to protect against such weapons 2. Such approaches to modelling are to our knowledge now being developed in the USA, Germany, China and the UK.…”

“…The authors of the above paper have based their model on ballistic gelatin in a similar manner to the approach used by the UK 2. In turn, ballistic gelatin is a good simulacrum for the passage of both bullets and energised fragments through animal muscle 3 4.…”