NCJ Number
30462
Date Published
1975
Length
119 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A 12-MONTH PROJECT UNDERTAKEN TO DEVELOP INCONSPICUOUS, LIGHTWEIGHT PROTECTIVE GARMENTS FOR USE BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO DEFEAT MOST HANDGUN THREATS.
Abstract
A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON SEVERAL PROMISING PROTECTIVE MATERIALS INDICATED THAT KEVLAR 29 MATERIAL HAS SUPERIOR BALLISTIC PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES AND IS SUITABLE FOR TAILORING PURPOSES. THIS NEW MATERIAL, WHILE LIGHT, IS ALSO QUITE FLEXIBLE. THIS DOCUMENT DEFINES THE GENERAL TASKS REQUIRED ON THE PART OF THE US ARMY (BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY, EDGEWOOD ARSENAL, ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD AND NATICK DEVELOPMENT CENTER, NATICK, MA) TO DEVELOP A FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE PHYSICAL PHENOMENA AND RELATED PERFORMANCE OF KEVLAR LIGHTWEIGHT BODY ARMOR AS APPLIED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT USER NEEDS. BALLISTIC TESTS WERE INITIATED USING BIOTARGETS TO DETERMINE THE DAMAGE INCURRED WHEN USING SEVEN LAYERS OF KEVLAR MATERIAL. THIS TESTING INCLUDED BLOOD GAS ANALYSIS IN ADDITION TO OBSERVATIONS OF TISSUE RESPONSE. OTHER TESTS CONDUCTED INCLUDED A HUMAN THORACIC CORRELATION, ASSESSMENT OF BACKFIRE SIGNITURES, A MATERIAL TEST MATRIX, TESTS AGAINST KNIFE THREATS, A BLUNT TRAUMA DATA CORRELATION TASK, ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING, AND CLIMATIC TESTING. IT WAS FOUND THAT IT IS WITHIN THE STATE-OF-THE-ART TO PRODUCE A LIGHTWEIGHT, INCONSPICUOUS, AND WEARABLE BODY ARMOR THAT WILL GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL GOOD PROTECTION FROM A SURPRISE ASSAULT WITH COMMON STREET HANDGUNS. SUCH AN ARMOR CAN BE TAILORED; IT DOES NOT HAVE TO LOOK LIKE AN UMPIRE'S CHEST PROTECTOR. IT CAN BE AN UNDERSHIRT OR A SPORT COAT; IT CAN BE THE LINER IN A RAINCOAT OR TUNIC. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)