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Animal Models of Neurotrauma pp 117–150Cite as

Introduction to Blast in the Context of Blast-Induced TBI

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Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 149))

Abstract

This chapter is a high-level introduction to the physics of blast with respect to its relevance to the study of primary blast injuries to the brain, also referred to as blast-induced traumatic brain injuries (b-TBI) or blast neurotrauma. Traumatic brain injuries resulting from exposure to an improvised explosive device (IED) has been called the signature injury of modern warfare (Tanielian and Jaycox, Invisible wounds of war: psychological and cognitive injuries, their consequences, and services to assist recovery, Rand Corporation, New York, 2008). Although there are several different mechanisms of injury associated with TBI, there is an increasing amount of evidence suggesting that the interaction between a blast wave and the head alone is a contributing factor in the occurrence of TBI. The goal of this chapter is to introduce non-blast specialists to the phenomenology of air blast and blast effects while using appropriate terminology. It wishes to provide a general appreciation of the complexities of blast wave propagation, interaction with the human head structure, and resulting high-rate biomechanical response. It also aims at further enabling researchers for the design of relevant blast experiments and for the generation of meaningful results contributing to progress towards better mitigation of TBI.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Explosions, Ballistics and Protection, TNO Defence Safety & Security, Den Haag, Netherlands

    M. M. G. M. (Mat) Philippens

  2. Defence Research and Development Canada - Valcartier Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada

    Simon Ouellet

Authors
  1. M. M. G. M. (Mat) Philippens
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  2. Simon Ouellet
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. M. G. M. (Mat) Philippens .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental Traumatology, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Mårten Risling

  2. Division of Vehicle Safety, Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Johan Davidsson

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Philippens, M.M.G.M.(., Ouellet, S. (2019). Introduction to Blast in the Context of Blast-Induced TBI. In: Risling, M., Davidsson, J. (eds) Animal Models of Neurotrauma. Neuromethods, vol 149. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9711-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9711-4_7

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9709-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9711-4

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