Model to Predict Probability of Significant Skin Burn Injury From a Directed-Energy Source

Abstract

Millimeter wave directed energy in the frequency regime of 94-95 GHz has potential for use in numerous military applications including crowd control and area denial. Although proven to be very safe, millimeter wave energy has the potential, because of accidental over exposure, to produce significant injuries. Currently, the Dynamic Thermal Model (DTM), developed by Beason and colleagues, is used to calculate the temperature profile in skin undergoing (millimeter wave) heating, using an all-or-nothing threshold of injury. Risk of significant injury (RSI) is determined by product of the probability of an injury outcome on a region of the body times the probability of that the injury will occur. Thus, a threshold injury determination may over predict burn probability and fail safety requirements. This work augments the DTM, replacing the current threshold value of injury with a probabilistic risk of injury to better quantify the risk of significant injury.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2021
Source ID
10.1093/milmed/usaa277

Entities

People

  • Anthony Iyoho
  • Laurel J. Ng

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • 5G
  • Directed Energy