Numerical study on the modification effect of the seat load acting on a soldier during the blast wave derived from IED explosion

The structure of a vehicle located in the explosion area of an anti-vehicle mine or an IED is subject to a strong impact of a blast wave. The explosion of a mine produces a blast wave that travels in all directions at a speed greater than the speed of sound. The level of risk to the crew of a military vehicle depends on their distance from the place of detonation, on the vehicle’s design and in particular on the design of the bottom of the hull and on the assembly and type of seats. The article provides the analysis of the impact of a side explosion on the crew of an armoured vehicle. Since the new classified version of the AEP-55 document, which defines the conditions for testing the resistance of military vehicles to explosions affecting their side, is not available, it was assumed in the numerical analysis that the charge weight of the explosive device is 100 kg TNT, placed between the central vehicle axles at the distance of 400 mm from the bottom and 1,000 mm from the lower board. Two cases were analysed: one where the Hybrid III dummy was placed on the reference seat and the other where it was placed on a modified seat. The analysis is conducted using the LS-DYNA explicit code. Only the vehicle’s hull is considered with suspension and the turret is modelled with mass.