Low-cost Integrated Blast Test Surrogate Device

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with Wayne State University (WSU), proposes to develop a low cost blast surrogate testing device that can be used to evaluate next generation personal protective equipment (PPE). New material advancements could be used to mitigate the blast wave through improved PPE design, but a more advanced test surrogate is needed to inform PPE design decisions.  Our proposed approach will provide a surrogate model to evaluate damage to the brain, lungs and neurosensory system from a blast wave event. The proposed low cost approach will provide the ability to automatically acquire data and share it to a cloud-computing platform for remote analysis. Reduced cost will be achieved by using modern 3D printing techniques, and by developing/sourcing low cost sensors. PSI will develop a low cost force sensor using a proprietary Load Sensing Elastomer (LSE) to monitor forces on the brain within the skull. Collaboration with WSU will enable us to test the blast surrogate and establish algorithms to identify potential organ damage. At the end of Phase I, we will have an integrated low cost torso surrogate device and have demonstrated its ability to withstand a blast wave with peak pressures of at least 25psi.