Multiscale Modeling of Lung for Underwater Blast

This Topic aims to develop a computational model of human lung for underwater explosion (UNDEX), with the focus to identify a modeling approach that can characterize the physiological response of human lungs to underwater blast. A combined experimental and numerical study is proposed to develop a method to elucidate the biomechanical response of a lung surrogate physical model subject to underwater shock loading. In the physical experiments, a lung simulant will be placed in an UNDEX simulator where the pressures within surrogate and the deformation history will be recorded. A numerical model will be developed and validated against experimental data. An RVE (representative volume element) will be built for a small volume of micro foam pores which resemble lung alveolar sacs. A full scale, anatomically correct model will be created in Phase II for the lung-thorax system that consists of ribcage, lungs, heart, diaphragm, and other soft tissues. The characteristics of the multiscale surrogate lung model developed in Phase I will be adapted to the actual lung model. This multiscale lung-thorax model will be able to simulate and predict the biomechanical response of lung to UNDEX from the organ level to the volumetric behavior of alveolar sacs.