Title:

Blast Induced Traumatic Brain Injuries: Integrated Experimental and Computational Studies

Speaker:

Dr. Namas Chandra

Affiliation:

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

When:

Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 3:00:00 PM   Add to Calendar

Where:

IBB Building, Room 1128

Host:

Michelle LaPlaca
michelle.laplaca@bme.gatech.edu

Abstract

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are the weapons used by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan; and traumatic brain injury is recognized as the “signature wound”. Blast waves generated by explosives cause mild to moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (bTBI) in soldiers and civilians. To understand the interaction of blast on the head/brain complex; to identify the mechanisms of injury; to examine the role of protective systems on injury; to provide better diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic tools, shock tubes are extensively used in the laboratory to simulate the field conditions. By detailing the results from a series of careful experiments and numerical simulations, we demonstrate that 1) blast profiles continuously evolve along the length of the tube, 2) for a given experimental configuration the desired field conditions are replicated only in a narrow test region, 3) tests done outside the tube cannot simulate primary blast, 4) shock-blast waves interact with structural and biological media very differently, 5) helmet material and geometry play a critical role in protecting or otherwise, and 6) studies using animal models/cadavers/test dummies/single neurons provide great insight into the biomechanical loadings and post-injury biochemical and pathophysiological sequelae. Other effects on bTBI from blunt impact and repeated sub-lethal concussive loadings will also be discussed.

Biography

Dr. Chandra's biography is not available at this time.