Effects of salt water on the ballistic protective performance of bullet-resistant body armour
| Author | C Lankester,C Malbon,T Corke,S O’Rourke,DJ Carr,R Critchley,S Dodd |
| Published date | 01 September 2019 |
| Date | 01 September 2019 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X18809905 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Effects of salt water
on the ballistic protective
performance of bullet-
resistant body armour
Dodd S, Malbon C, Critchley R and Lankester C
Centre for Defence Engineering, Cranfield University, Defence Academy
of the UK, Shrivenham, UK
O’Rourke S
dstl Sandridge, St Albans, UK
Corke T
Ministry of Defence Police Headquarters, Wethersfield, Essex, UK
Carr DJ
Centre for Defence Engineering, Cranfield University, Defence Academy
of the UK, Shrivenham, UK; Defence and Security Accelerator, Porton
Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
Abstract
Bullet-resistant body armour is used by law enforcement agencies and military personnel
worldwide, often in inclement weather. Some fibre types used in body armour perform
poorly when wet, resulting in a reduced level of protection; this is why most body
armour protective elements are water-repellent treated and/or protected by a water-
resistant cover. Some of the users operate in the maritime environment. The effect of
salt water on body armour performance has not been previously reported. In this work
the effect of soaking body armour in salt water and exposing body armour for up to 10
soaking and drying cycles in salt water was investigated. The effectiveness of the water-
resistant cover was investigated by considering three cover conditions: (i) intact, (ii) cut
and (iii) removed. Wet armour was heavier and provided significantly less protection
Corresponding author:
Carr DJ, Defence and Security Accelerator, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JQ, UK.
Email: djcarr@dstl.gov.uk
The Police Journal:
Theory, Practice and Principles
2019, Vol. 92(3) 264–273
ªThe Author(s) 2018
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DOI: 10.1177/0032258X18809905
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