Blast Waves May Cause Human Brain Injury Even Without Direct Head Impacts

The Army's Advanced Combat Helmet replaced the older Personal Armor System for Ground Troops helmet. Its Kevlar shell provides ballistic and impact protection, and its reduced edge cut, although reducing area of coverage, improves soldiers' field of vision and hearing. (Credit: Photo courtesy U.S. Army)

From Science Daily:

Science Daily (Aug. 27, 2009) — New research on the effects of blast waves could lead to an enhanced understanding of head injuries and improved military helmet design.

Using numerical hydrodynamic computer simulations, Lawrence Livermore scientists Willy Moss and Michael King, along with University of Rochester colleague Eric Blackman, have discovered that nonlethal blasts can induce enough skull flexure to generate potentially damaging loads in the brain, even without direct head impact.

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My Comment: It's amazing to see how much the helmet has evolved in just the past 20 years.