Rapid Personal Protective Equipment Simulation Environment (RAP-SIM)

Human-centric physics-based models are a key component in the design and analysis of personal protective equipment (PPE) for both commercial and military applications.  Research and development (R&D) related to new materials and component designs for different PPE including novel designs of body armor has yielded substantial success, but the returns in this area are diminishing relative to investment of funds and time.  Consequently, there is a distinct need for digital design tools that allow for rapid exploration within the trade space between human performance, injury risk and protection, to enable PPE systems development.  In order to support and improve the PPE R&D processes while responding to the human-centric focus within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), there also exists a need for a centralized human modeling tool enabling the integration of various design-and-analysis components.  Given the complexity of the human biological system, accurately modeling human performance, especially when considering interaction with the environment and equipment, requires a multi-scale model.  This in turn requires a central platform on which to build and prototype, with an advanced, accurate, valid and robust digital human model (DHM) as the cornerstone.  The relative importance of a high-fidelity DHM framework becomes evident when one considers the effect of various environmental conditions and equipment traits influence the outcomes of product and process design, injury prevention, and warfighter performance.  Although the DHM field has gained significant momentum with many human-component models, there still exists deficiencies and thus opportunities for advancement.  Most current DHM focus on simulating whole-body activities and do not have the fidelity or broad range of capabilities necessary to address issues associated with PPE design for military operations.  Currently, there is no single, flexible multi-scale DHM platform that allows for easy expansion, growth, and integration.  On a component level, most DHMs are limiting because they are static, independent and uncoupled; tending to stifle scope by addressing only a single component or section of the body.  Finally, mature PPE assessment and protection analysis tools are rare, especially in the context of a comprehensive human models; e.g., physiological capacities and physical abilities related to critical operational job duties / tasks.  This proposal responds to current deficiencies by contributing to a single DHM platform for integrating predictive physics-based models, casualty/injury prediction capabilities, high-fidelity models for internal organs and penetration mechanics, and PPE design and analysis processes by extending human modeling tools to enable easy and efficient design of new PPE systems (aligning with prior DOD funded efforts) to streamline PPE design and optimize fit-form factor / function before prototyping.