Publications

Revitalizing the DOD Laboratories

Generating Bone-Like Internal Structure in Arbitrary 3-D Models: Operational environments continue to increase in complexity, increasing the breadth of Soldier exposure to novel risk. To understand and mitigate these risks, we require higher-complexity physical models. One area where current models fail to meet nascent requirements is correctly modeling trabecular bone. Here, we develop an algorithm to generate anatomically similar bone porosity toward these models. Through use of Blender software, we are able to create a Voroni matrix and apply it to arbitrary shapes with specific porosity gradients. We also calibrate the developed algorithm to account for errors encountered when 3-D printing these matrices, so the expected porosity aligns with the final part. Going forward, these models will allow us to create bone-like structures to examine physical and electromagnetic effects of battlefield conditions on tissue without putting Soldiers at risk.

Generating Bone-Like Internal Structure in Arbitrary 3-D Models

Quantifying Desiccation in Glycerol–Agarose Hydrogels: Electromagnetic (EM) radiation-emitting devices are becoming more common in the world and on the battlefield with the use of radar, high-power radios, and other nonionizing radiation-emitting devices. We lack an efficient way to test safety and biological effects of EM, so we need admittance-matching tissue simulants to test for detrimental effects and develop protective measures. Some of the best candidates for the simulants are hydrogels due to their high-water content and tissue-similar mechanics. However, these gels can desiccate over time, changing their properties over the course of experimentation. A common solution is to add a humectant, which helps keep water bound in the hydrogel. In this work, we quantify how much of a common humectant, glycerol, changes equilibrium water content across a series of agarose-based hydrogels kept under strict environmental conditions. From this data, we can estimate how much glycerol is required to stabilize a tissue-simulant model under a given set of environmental conditions, allowing for better testing of EM response of tissue over a longer period of time.

Quantifying Desiccation in Glycerol–Agarose Hydrogels

Energetics and Lethality

A2AD and the Naval Enterprise

Topics in Energetics

January 1, 2013

S&T Revitalization

January 1, 2012

Rare Earth Materials

January 1, 2012

Energetics Science and Technology in Central Europe

January 1, 2012

Simulation-based Innovation and Discovery

January 1, 2011

Energetics Science and Technology in China

January 1, 2010

Training in Virtual Environments

January 1, 2008