Numerical simulation on interaction between blast shock wave and human thorax

The finite element model for simulating the interaction between blast shock wave and human thorax is established to analyze the propagation characteristics of stress wave in human thorax and the dynamic response of human thorax. The shock wave at the front of thorax is reflected by thorax surface and has the highest peak overpressure. The shock wave on the back of thorax is superimposed by diffraction shock waves from two sides of thorax and has the smallest peak overpressure. The overpressure of diffraction shock waves on both sides of thorax is similar. Due to the difference of impedance characteristics of thorax materials, the lung near the explosive point is mainly affected by compression waves transmitted by the incident shock wave through the muscles and sternum. The side lung is affected by the weak extension wave caused by the deformation of the sternum and the strong compression wave caused by the incident shock wave. In addition to the similar conditions of the side lung, the back of the lung is also subjected to compression waves caused by the reflection of vertebra. The relationship between the pressure on thorax surface and various tissues and the deformation speed of thorax and the blast shock wave can be fitted as y = A [ 1 − exp ( x B ) ] , where y is the dependent variable, x is the peak overpressure of blast shock wave, and A and B are the fitting constants.