Armor Testing: Blunt Force Trauma

Published on November 1, 2019
Duration: 21:59

This video tests blunt force trauma mitigation of different body armor types using Roma Plastilina clay as a tissue simulant. A steel plate showed minimal backface signature against 7.62 NATO, while a standalone ceramic plate registered 20.5mm. However, the ceramic plate with a soft armor backer drastically reduced the impact, demonstrating the effectiveness of layered protection for lighter wear.

Quick Summary

Roma Plastilina No. 1 clay is the NIJ standard for measuring backface signature, indicating blunt force trauma. Steel armor showed minimal impact, while a standalone ceramic plate registered 20.5mm. With a soft backer, the ceramic plate's impact was negligible.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Armor Blunt Force Trauma Test
  2. 00:35Testing Medium: NIJ Standards & Clay
  3. 01:44Test Methodology: Plate vs. Plate + Backer
  4. 02:32Armor Specs: Steel & Lightweight Ceramic
  5. 04:27Ballistic Context & FBI Stats
  6. 06:51Test 1: Steel Plate vs. 7.62 NATO
  7. 09:50Test 2: Standalone Ceramic Plate
  8. 11:59Test 3: Ceramic Plate with Soft Armor Backer
  9. 14:47Conclusion: Steel vs. Ceramic Armor

Frequently Asked Questions

What is used to measure blunt force trauma on body armor?

Roma Plastilina No. 1 clay is used as the NIJ standard medium for measuring backface signature, which quantifies blunt force trauma. This allows for relative field results when testing armor's ability to mitigate impact energy.

How does steel armor perform against blunt force trauma?

In testing, the AR1000 steel plate demonstrated excellent blunt force trauma mitigation, showing almost zero discernible backface signature on the clay when impacted by 7.62 NATO rounds.

What is the backface signature of a standalone ceramic plate?

When tested alone, the Ceramic Poly-Hybrid 'Lightweight' plate produced a significant backface signature, creating a crater approximately 20.5mm deep in the Roma Plastilina clay.

Does a soft armor backer improve ceramic plate performance?

Yes, adding a soft armor backer to a ceramic plate drastically reduces energy transfer. The test showed a negligible mark on the clay when the ceramic plate was used with a backer.

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