Award

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel involved with the clearance of underwater mines, divers working with explosives and other impulsive noise sources such as underwater explosion (UNDEX) tools are exposed to risk of injury or loss of life. The increased density and viscosity along with the decreased compressibility of water relative to air, mean that underwater blast waves propagate further and injure a target more readily than waves generated in air. Gas-filled organs such as the lungs are very susceptible to injury due to a UNDEX. In fact, studies have indicated that the implosion and over-tension effects of shock waves lead to alveolar rupture, lung tissue hemorrhage, pulmonary interstitial damage, lung edema, pleural effusion, and pulmonary opacification which are life-threatening conditions. Therefore, the development of effective EOD personnel protection and countermeasures requires a deep understanding of the issues concerning hydrodynamics, biomechanical, and biological/physiological effects of underwater explosions. Keeping this in view, ERI proposes the development of a versatile multiphysics framework that can analyze the impact of UNDEX on biomechanics and physiology of a human lung.