A FLUID-MECHANICAL MODEL OF THE THORACO-ABDOMINAL SYSTEM WITH APPLICATIONS TO BLAST BIOLOGY
Abstract
A mathematical model was described which was developed to compute some of the fluid-mechanical responses of the thoraco-abdominal system subjected to rapid changes in environmental pressure. Parameters relating the animal to the model were estimated, tested and then adjusted as required by comparing model results with experimental records of thoracic pressures recorded for rabbits exposed to blast waves in shock tubes. Equations were derived to scale parameters applicable to a given animal to those for similar creatures of arbitrary mass. By dimensional analysis other equations were developed to relate, for a given biological response, the body mass of similar animals to blast wave parameters. Numerical solutions of the model were presented to help explain the mechanisms involved when animals were loaded with typical wave forms or with pulses increasing to a maximum in a stepwise manner, a contingency associated with a quite significant increase in mammalian tolerance to overpressure. Differences in response to short- and long- duration blast waves were noted. Applications of the scaling concepts were exemplified in several ways making use of the published data in blast biology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 14, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0469913
Entities
People
- April Holladay
- Clayton S. White
- Donald R. Richmond
- E. R. Fletcher
- I. G. Bowen
Organizations
- Lovelace Foundation