Ballistic and Spall Tests for Aircrew Body Armor

Abstract

A new integrated body armor carrier system is designed to reduce spall when the armor plate is impacted by .30 caliber small arms fire. Ballistic tests, when compared to previous data, showed this system exhibited greater spall suppression than the standard aircrew armor in use in Vietnam. Spall suppression was also comparable to that provided by the heavier aircrew armor vest previously recommended as a replacement for the standard item. Results indicate that the new vest-carrier system made of nylon 128 should be type classified as Standard 6A6. Injury by flying spall has been reduced, but a continuing program is needed to establish advanced design criteria, textile and other material capabilities to suppress all spall, generated from obliquity strikes on aircrew armor by .30 caliber small arms fire.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0756367

Entities

People

  • Paul J. Buttkus
  • Thomas H. Judge

Organizations

  • United States Army Soldier Systems Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Aluminum Oxides
  • Armor
  • Armor Plate
  • Body Armor
  • Composite Materials
  • Design Criteria
  • Fabrics
  • Fiberglass
  • Flight Crews
  • Fragmentation
  • Materials
  • Particles
  • Projectiles
  • Small Arms
  • Standards
  • Test Methods

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Fire Suppression Systems Design.