INFLUENCE OF AIR-GAPS BETWEEN TORSO BODY ARMOUR AND BODY ON THE RISK OF PERFORATION AND BEHIND-ARMOUR BLUNT TRAUMA

Body armour systems, like bullet-resistant vests, are tested extensively according to different norms and standards before being introduced for service, in order to ensure the systems can provide the required level of protection. Unfortunately, a number of issues have recently emerged with in-service body armour and personal equipment for which currently no clear answer exists. This paper more specifically focusses on the influence of the standoff of the torso body armour from the body on the risk on perforation and BABT. Experimental tests were performed during which soft and hard body armour systems were mounted on calibrated Plastilina support and impacted with caliber 12 projectile at nominal velocity and with a range of air-gaps from 0 to 20 mm. This work suggests that the presence of an air-gap between the soft armour vest and the witness material might result in an increase likelihood of injury. However, for the hard system, the experimental results are the opposite.