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Stromboli is a volcanic island in a persistent state of activity, located off the northern coast of Sicily. The paroxysms have been the most powerful explosive phenomena at Stromboli in the last 150 years. These explosions can produce ballistic projectiles that can heavily affect trails and observation sites as well as hit inhabited areas at lower elevations, down to the coast. On July 3, 2019, a paroxysm significantly affected a great portion of the island with ballistic projectiles. In particular, many decimeter and meter-sized spatter bombs hit the W flank of Stromboli, and ignited multiple fires. In May 2022, we conducted an Unmanned Aerial System photogrammetric campaign over a sector of the W flank of Stromboli that was heavily affected by the paroxysm. The largest clasts were still preserved after 3 years, not disturbed by significant mass wasting phenomena or human interference, and they were not yet hidden by the post-fire regrowth of the brush vegetation. In this study, we constrained the main sources of uncertainty affecting the bombs distribution on the ground, by characterizing a percentage of uncertain clasts, testing various density estimators, and by modeling an areal buffer around the mapped clasts. We produced a 0.18 km2 wide 1.6-cm resolution orthomosaic, a 10-cm resolution Digital Surface Model, and 2813 outlines of the mapped ballistics. Spatial distribution of the ground cover and associated uncertainty were analyzed as a function of the distance and of the angular direction from the source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computed tomography (CT) may have a crucial role in the forensic documentation and analysis of firearm injuries. The aim of this forensic ballistics case study was to explore whether two types of expanding bullets and a full metal-jacketed bullet could be differentiated by inspecting bullet fragments and fragmentation pattern in CT. Three types of.30 caliber bullets (full metal-jacketed Norma Jaktmatch, expanding full-copper Norma Ecostrike, and expanding soft-point Norma Oryx) were test fired from a distance of 5 m to blocks of 10% ballistic gelatine. CT scans of the blocks were obtained with clinical equipment and metal artifact reduction. Radiopaque fragments were identified and fragmentation parameters were obtained from the scans (total number of fragments, maximum diameter of the largest fragment, distance between entrance and the closest fragment, length of the fragment cloud, and maximum diameters of the fragment cloud). The fragmentation patterns were additionally visualized by means of 3D reconstruction. In CT, the bullet types differed in several fragmentation parameters. While the expanding full-copper bullet Ecostrike left behind only a single fragment near the end of the bullet channel, the soft-point Oryx had hundreds of fragments deposited throughout the channel. For both expanding bullets Ecostrike and Oryx, the fragments were clearly smaller than those left behind by the full metal-jacketed Jaktmatch. This was surprising as the full metal-jacketed bullet was expected to remain intact. The fragment cloud of Jaktmatch had similar mediolateral and superoinferior diameters to that of Oryx; however, fragments were deposited in the second half of the gelatine block, and not throughout the block. This case study provides a basis and potential methodology for further experiments. The findings are expected to benefit forensic practitioners with limited background information on gunshot injury cases, for example, those that involve several potential firearms or atypical gunshot wounds. The findings may prove beneficial for both human and wildlife forensics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coupled framework of ballistic simulations and an optimized machine learning (ML) model was developed to accurately predict the kinetic energy reduction of a projectile impacting a target. ML models can require a significant number of data points for proper training, testing, and validation. High-performance computing (HPC) resources can be used to simulate the ballistic impacts of various projectiles against several different target materials using appropriate physics-based hydrocodes. Computational modeling can explore areas where experiments would naturally be cost-prohibitive. These hydrocodes can evaluate large parametric spaces varying the projectile and target variables that are required to train an ML model. In this study a large, generated set of data points was used to develop an optimized artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm to create a fast-running model without prior knowledge of the mathematical relationships between all the input and output variables. The optimized ANN model was developed using Optuna in an HPC environment to tune the hyperparameters needed for the ANN model. This fast-running ML model could then be leveraged to investigate designing optimized targets that could protect against different types of projectiles. The results of this work showed that the optimized ANN model predicted the kinetic energy reduction with a mean absolute percentage error of 2.7% across the validation data. Overall, the optimized ANN model showed excellent agreement across the range of data considered by the computational models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quasi-one-dimensional numerical model is developed to provide the internal ballistics information of a throttling segregated fuel-oxidizer system (SFOS). The present throttling SFOS is capable of regulating its thrust by adjusting the opening radius of a throttle valve mounted between the head-end fuel-rich chamber and the aft-end oxygen-rich chamber. The numerical model employs a simplified reaction mechanism to describe the chemical non-equilibrium processes and considers mass addition, wall friction, and propellant surface regression in the combustion chambers. With this numerical model, the internal flow parameter distributions and the performance of the throttling SFOS are demonstrated. The steady operation results show that when the throttle valve opening radius is adjusted from 10.5 mm to 1.4 mm, the motor thrust can be increased from 121.82 N to 250.60 N, which is a 206% thrust promotion. It validates the conception of throttling SFOS. The flow parameters also suggest that the function of the throttle valve can only be manifested when the valve opening radius is quite small. The dynamic operation results reveal that the performance histories of the throttling SFOS experience slight anti-regulations at the end of the valve actuation, which deserves extra protective measures. A theoretical prediction of the thrust regulation ability of the throttling SFOS is provided. It suggests that the thrust regulation ability is limited by the fuel-rich chamber pressure and the initial mass flow rate ratio, and a compromise has to be made among multiple parameters to achieve a reasonable thrust regulation ratio. Finally, the grain arrangement is tentatively discussed. It shows that, based on the present modeling conditions, the fuel-oxygen grain arrangement is superior in its thrust regulation ability than the reversed oxygen-fuel grain arrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The definitions of stored gravitational energy are given. The value of the limited gravitational energy of two massive mutually nonpenetrating balls is calculated. It is established that the stored gravitational energy is always positive. A formula is presented for the maximum possible gravitational energy of two massive balls, which can be used to estimate the energy of the merger of space objects, in particular, gaseous, dusty, and plasma, as well as for ballistic calculations of space flights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gunshot wound analysis is an important part of medicolegal practice, in both autopsies and examinations of living persons. Well-established and studied simulants exist that exhibit both physical and biomechanical properties of soft-tissues and bones. Current research literature on ballistic wounds focuses on the biomechanical properties of skin simulants. In our extensive experimental study, we tested numerous synthetic and natural materials, regarding their macromorphological bullet impact characteristics, and compared these data with those from real bullet injuries gathered from medicolegal practice. Over thirty varieties of potential skin simulants were shot perpendicularly, and at 45°, at a distance of 10 m and 0.3 m, using full metal jacket (FMJ) projectiles (9 × 19 mm Luger). Simulants included ballistic gelatine at various concentrations, dental silicones with several degrees of hardness, alginates, latex, chamois leather, suture trainers for medical training purposes and various material compound models. In addition to complying to the general requirements for a synthetic simulant, results obtained from dental silicones shore hardness 70 (backed with 20 % by mass gelatine), were especially highly comparable to gunshot entry wounds in skin from real cases. Based on these results, particularly focusing on the macroscopically detectable criteria, we can strongly recommend dental silicone shore hardness 70 as a skin simulant for wound ballistics examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contact shots to the head often leave behind biological traces inside firearm barrels, a phenomenon of great forensic interest. Until now, the visualization and preservation of these traces presented a significant challenge, lacking a reliable method. This study addresses this gap by searching for a suitable method to extract the traces within a casting. Using alginate or gelatine as suitable materials, the results were hampered by serious adhesion issues and their extraction out of the firearm barrel was impeded. Finally, the combination of 11% gelatine with 1% alginate, introduced into the barrel around a 'central spine', succeeded to consistently produce replicable castings. Experimental contact shots displayed a distinct staining gradient from the muzzle to the rear of the barrel, as revealed through endoscopy and proved in the macroscopic casting. The technique proved effective for various common handgun barrels and successfully preserved blood and gunshot residue (GSR) patterns within the barrel. This method offers the dual benefits of visually mapping staining patterns and securing localized samples for targeted molecular genetic analysis in forensic investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of ordnance gelatine has been widespread in the field of ballistics as a simulant for soft tissue when assessing ballistic threats. However, the traditional method of preparing ordnance gelatine is time-consuming and requires precision to ensure that the final mold meets the required specifications. Furthermore, temperature control is necessary post-production, and there are limitations on its usage duration. To address these issues, manufacturers have developed pre-mixed, gelatine-like products that are stable at room temperature and require less preparation time. Nonetheless, it is uncertain whether these new products can perform in the same manner as the gold standard of ordnance gelatine. This study used five types of blocks, including ordnance gelatine (10% and 20%), Clear Ballistics (10% and 20%) and Perma-Gel (10%) and subjected them to 9 mm, 0.380 Auto fired from a universal receiver and a 5.56 × 45 mm ammunition fired by a certified firearms instructor. Delta-V and total energy dissipation were measured after each test using data collected from ballistic chronographs placed in front of and behind each block. High-speed video was recorded, and a cut-down analysis conducted. The findings revealed variations in energy dissipation and fissure formation within the block, with greater energy based on fissure formation observed in the ordnance gelatine. Additionally, the high-speed video showed the occurrence of secondary combustions occurring in the premixed gelatines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When dealing with badly preserved cadavers or skeletal human remains, the assessment of death circumstances remains challenging. When forensic evidence cannot be taken from the skin and soft tissue, the information may only be deduced from more resistant elements such as bone. Compared to cranial gunshot injuries, reliable data on ballistic long bone trauma remains scarce. This study aims to define ballistic fracture characteristics in human long bones. The shaft of 16 femurs and 13 humeri from body donors was perpendicularly shot with a 9-mm Luger full metal jacket bullet at an impact velocity of 360 m/s from a distance of 2 m. Some bones were embedded in Clear Ballistics Gel®, and some were shot without soft tissue simulant in order to better visualise the fracture propagation on the high-speed camera. The fractures were examined macroscopically and compared between the sample groups. We consistently found comminuted fractures with a stellate pattern. Fracture details were classified into entrance, exit and general characteristics. For some traits, we detected different occurrence values in the group comparison. The results indicate that some of the traits depend on bone properties such as shaft diameter, bone length and cortical thickness. The presence of ballistic gel also influenced some fracture traits, emphasising the relevance of soft tissue simulant in osseous gunshot experiments. This study revealed new insights in the detailed fracture pattern of human long bones. These may serve as guidelines for the identification and reconstruction of gunshot trauma in human long bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Penetrating combat injuries by fragments are of concern during tactical warfare. The fragments generated from the explosive devices can cause lethal penetration in various organs, including the head. The response of the head against fragment impact is unknown. Objective: To experimentally investigate the ballistic response of an open-shape head surrogate model against fragment impact. We hypothesize that the response of the head surrogate to the impact of small fragments is different than that of larger projectiles. The ballistic response of the head surrogate was evaluated in terms of ballistic limit velocities (V50), energies (E50), energy densities (E50/A) required for the penetration, and associated failure mechanisms in various layers of the head surrogate. Methods: The head surrogate was prepared by stacking rectangle cross-sectioned skin, skull, and brain simulants. Chisel-nosed fragment simulating projectiles (FSPs) of 1.10-g and 2.79-g were impacted on the head surrogate using a pneumatic gas gun setup. Results: V50 and E50/A of the 2.79-g FSP were lower by ~ 50% than the 1.10-g FSP. The skin simulant failed by the combination of shearing and elastic hole enlargement. The skull simulant failed by a conoid fracture. In penetration cases, the FSP broke the fractured conoid of the skull simulant in smaller pieces and penetrated into the brain simulant. Interestingly, for the cases of non-penetration into the brain simulant, the brain simulant was damaged due to the moving conoid of the skull simulant. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that V50 and E50/A were influenced by the size of the FSP. For the investigated fragments, 15–25 J of energy was sufficient to cause various degrees of penetration into the brain simulant. All three layers of the head surrogate failed by distinguished mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Experimental Investigation of the Ballistic Response of Head Surrogate Against Fragment Simulating Projectiles" published in the journal Experimental Mechanics. The correction states that during the proofing stage, the author mistakenly submitted the same image for both Fig. 11(a) and (b). The correct image has been replaced in the updated version of the article. The correction notice also includes the names of the authors involved in the study. Springer Nature, the publisher, remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]