Provisional Criteria for Rapid Incapacitation by Fragments

Abstract

From experimental data obtained by the Biophysics Branch, Medical Laboratories, Army Chemical Center, Edgewood, Maryland, the probabilities are inferred that hits on personnel by fragments of known mass, velocity, and shape will incapacitate. The experiments were conducted against live goats, and the results were assessed by medical officer personnel. The results are classified according to three levels of incapacitation: incapacitation within 5 seconds, incapacitation within 5 minutes, and fatal or severe wounding. The inferred probabilities, based on provisionally and rapidly interpreted experimental results, are exhibited as functions of mv/A where m is the fragment mass, v the striking velocity, and A the average presented area of the fragment. The probability results, which are subject to revision should the basic data be reinterpreted, are being currently employed by the Ballistic Research Laboratories in the design of improved hand grenades.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1951
Accession Number
AD0111929

Entities

People

  • Theodore E. Sterne

Organizations

  • Ballistic Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Casualties
  • Confidence Limits
  • Experimental Data
  • Grenades
  • Hand Grenades
  • Incapacitation
  • Intervals
  • Maryland
  • Medical Laboratories
  • Munitions
  • Officer Personnel
  • Probability
  • Soft Tissues
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Marksmanship and Weaponry.
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Bayesian Inference
  • Biotechnology