Numerical investigation of similarity laws for blast simulation: Open-field propagation and interaction with a biomechanical model

In a military context, blast loadings are encountered, with more or less severe consequences on structures in interaction with a shock wave, which travels in a field. With a need of protecting the fighter, the understanding of this physical dynamic phenomenon is of extreme importance to avoid body trauma induced by the primary blast. In this context, this study explores simulations of blast loading, and its interaction with a human torso biomechanical model previously developed, based on referenced experiments from the literature. The concept of similarities is also studied (peak pressure equivalence for long distance and large explosive mass and short distance and small explosive mass). Validations of numerical results are conducted using experimental data from the literature in terms of pressure peak as a function of scaled distance, and also in terms of pressure time history in the biomechanical model. Good agreement between the numerical results and the experimental peak pressure is achieved.