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I have been inspired by talk of homemade bulletproofing to consider the question of how it might best be done.
The basic challenge behind bulletproofing is that you have a fair amount of energy coming in on one narrow front, and you want to absorb, disperse or redirect that energy without greatly affecting what you want to protect.
Plastic deformation is one option, with a bullet deforming as well as a plate of steel (for example) deforming. Both items convert the kinetic energy into the work of deformation, and when the energy is exhausted penetration stops.
Dispersion is another option (although we can presume that in most cases significant plastic deformation of a bullet will occur as well) when a bullet hits something like water, gel, or even sand. The part which receives the impact transmits energy in all directions, rapidly reducing the concentration of incoming energy.
Deflection, often interpreted as a ricochet, changes direction but doesn't necessarily greatly reduce the projectile's velocity, so in the absence of something else to take the impact it is probably not wise.
I had some notion of slips of steel sandwiched in a quilted kevlar (or other aramidic cloth) garment, but then I thought of layering steel scales to get good coverage, and then my mind filled with a million ideas.
Any thoughts?
The basic challenge behind bulletproofing is that you have a fair amount of energy coming in on one narrow front, and you want to absorb, disperse or redirect that energy without greatly affecting what you want to protect.
Plastic deformation is one option, with a bullet deforming as well as a plate of steel (for example) deforming. Both items convert the kinetic energy into the work of deformation, and when the energy is exhausted penetration stops.
Dispersion is another option (although we can presume that in most cases significant plastic deformation of a bullet will occur as well) when a bullet hits something like water, gel, or even sand. The part which receives the impact transmits energy in all directions, rapidly reducing the concentration of incoming energy.
Deflection, often interpreted as a ricochet, changes direction but doesn't necessarily greatly reduce the projectile's velocity, so in the absence of something else to take the impact it is probably not wise.
I had some notion of slips of steel sandwiched in a quilted kevlar (or other aramidic cloth) garment, but then I thought of layering steel scales to get good coverage, and then my mind filled with a million ideas.
Any thoughts?