Results from animal models suggest that a blast wave may be directly transmitted through cranial bone. Numerical models of blast wave interaction with the human head suggest that transmission may be large, and magnification may occur, but models have not yet been experimentally validated. Here, attenuation of a localized blast wave was measured through a layer of dry, cranial deer bone lined with 4mm of 10% gelatin. Peak unobstructed pressures of 461.6 and 166.0 kPa were reduced to 24.8 and 6.1 kPa, respectively (attenuations of 0.946 and 0.963, which are much larger than model predictions). The issues of accurate material properties at strain rates induced by blast waves, the role of skull flexure, and understanding both peak pressures and positive pulse durations of expected exposures are critical issues to resolve if numerical model results are to have quantitative validity for risk assessment and armor development.
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