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The response of a ballistic mesoscopic Hall bar to a local potential barrier is investigated in the presence of an external magnetic field. The effect of the position of the local potential probe in the Hall cross on the Hall and bend resistance is investigated leading to two-dimensional (2D) resistance maps. The Onsager–Casimir symmetry relations and symmetry relations between resistance measurements when interchanging the current and voltage leads, is obtained numerically for such 2D resistance maps. Symmetry properties are derived for the Hall and bend resistance maps with respect to the position of the local potential barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an efficient method to calculate the ballistic transmission function and current of an arbitrarily shaped, multiterminal two- or three-dimensional open device. It is shown that the calculation of the energy dependent transmission function can be reduced to a single calculation of some stationary states of the isolated device and the inversion of a small matrix that is energy dependent. The size of this matrix is shown to be governed by the size of the boundary region between the leads and the device. The method that we term contact block reduction method is illustrated by a numerical example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most interesting problems of modern solid-state physics is the emission mechanism of bright photoluminescence in the red spectral range discovered in silicon nanocrystallite structures, particularly in wires and dots. This article presents an interpretation of strong "red" photoluminescence in silicon wires and dots based on hot carrier ballistic transport in the process of photoluminescence excitation. Photoluminescence (PL), its excitation, electron paramagnetic resonance, infrared absorption and Raman scattering spectra of as-prepared Si wires have been examined. Silicon wire layers (porous silicon) were obtained by electrochemical etching of p-type Si wafers in a HF-ethanol solution. An atomic force microscope is used for porous silicon morphology analysis. It is shown that the very low PL intensity could be attributed to carrier radiative recombination between localized states quantum confined inside Si nanocrystallites. It is revealed that the ballistic effect can enhance the effective hot carrier excitation of interface defect-related photoluminescence in Si nanocrystallite structures. PL excitation spectrum modification depending on the Si crystallite size confirms the role of the ballistic effect in PL excitation of Si low-dimensional structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel methodology to experimentally verify constitutive models and numerical algorithms used in terminal ballistics of small arms ammunition. The methodology comprises of the following elements: identification of material models in a set of independent tests, terminal ballistics testing of conditions covering the most important cases of bullet–target interactions, while providing enough data to assess the scatter of parameters measured in the experiments and to create a measure characterising deviation of modelling results from the experiments. To meet the objectives of this study, 7.62 mm armour-piercing ammunition was used to perforate steel armour plates at ordnance velocity. Several parameters that characterise bullet velocity and path, plate deformation and ductility were measured and used as reference data for the verification of models. Relatively complex and simple constitutive and failure models implemented in the Finite Elements (FE) code LS DYNA were used. Finally, solid Lagrange and hybrid solid/Sooth Particles Hydrodynamics (SPH) discretisation methods with detailed models of the bullet and target are presented and different findings are compared with ballistic test results. The methodology shows a significant efficiency in the assessment of the adequacy of models. In this study, stress triaxiality and strain rate based models were found to give results in good agreement with experimental results, and several physical mechanisms are well predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies ballistic electronic transport in a proposed mesoscopic structure, quantum cable. Uniqueness of the structure quantum cable for the study of mesoscopic transport; Correlation between Fermi energy of electrons and ballistic conductance of quantum cable; Impact of the accidental degeneracies of the transverse subbands of quantum cable on the quantum conductance units.

Presents information on a study which examined the negative-effective-mass ballistic field-effect transistors. Ballistic carrier transport in diode structures; Ballistic carrier transport in gated structures; Numerical simulation procedure; Simulation results; Conclusions.

Forensic science plays a critical role in the United States criminal legal system. For decades, many featurebased fields of forensic science, such as firearm and toolmark identification, developed outside the scientific community’s purview. The results of these studies are widely relied on by judges nationwide. However, this reliance is misplaced. Black-box studies to date suffer from inappropriate sampling methods and high rates of missingness. Current black-box studies ignore both problems in arriving at the error rate estimates presented to courts. We explore the impact of each type of limitation using available data from blackbox studies and court materials. We show that black-box studies rely on unrepresentative samples of examiners. Using a case study of a popular ballistics study, we find evidence that these nonrepresentative samples may commit fewer errors than the wider population from which they came. We also find evidence that the missingness in black-box studies is non-ignorable. Using data from a recent latent print study, we show that ignoring this missingness likely results in systematic underestimates of error rates. Finally, we offer concrete steps to overcome these limitations. Supplementary materials for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydro-ballistic trajectory and cavity of the half sphere bullet and general pistol bullet are experimentally researched by a high speed digital video recorder when they entrain water at six speeds and at two depths of water. The experimental results show that the shape of a bullet has important influence upon the hydro-ballistics stability of the bullet motion. The hydro-ballistics of the half sphere bullet is stability, but the stability is not well for pistol bullet. The shape of pistol bullet cavity is "lotus root". The velocity attenuation law of the bullet have similarity at a range of bullet entraining water speeds. The velocity attenuation law in water has similarity for both of the half sphere and pistol bullet. The speed of bullet in water decreases very quickly. A calculation model is established to predict the velocity attenuation law of the bullet. The calculation results are compared with the experimental results, they agree well with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insufficient recognition of injuries by the BB-gun (regarded as toys for children) has led to its increasing misuse without permission, which has caused many public safety issues. Aiming to enhance the understanding of the injuries by the BB-gun, the experimental and numerical study of BB-Gun pellet penetrating "cowhide + gelatine" composite target was comprehensively carried out. It was confirmed from the experiment that BB-Gun is capable of inflicting severe or fatal wounds to important organs, and perforating the skin or not could be employed to evaluate the safety of BB-guns. Moreover, three forms of ballistic limit (including: velocity, kinetic energy and specific kinetic energy) of typical BB were calculated and analyzed by reasonably validated numerical simulation method. Additionally, a formulation was acquired by dimensional analysis based on the simulation results and was verified to accurately predict the ballistic limit velocity of BB with different mechanical properties. The method may help to improve the understanding on the minimal velocity needed to perforate skin and may be advised as the determination of the safety of BB-gun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To study wound ballistics of the mandibular angle, a combined hexahedral-tetrahedral finite element (FE) model of the pig mandible was developed to simulate ballistic impact. An experimental study was carried out by measuring impact load parameters from 14 fresh pig mandibles that were shot at the mandibular angle by a standard 7.62mm M43 bullet. FE analysis was executed through the LS-DYNA code under impact loads similar to those obtained from the experimental study. The resulting residual velocity, the transferred energy from the bullet to the mandible, and the surface area of the entrance wound had no statistical differences between the FE simulation and the experimental study. However, the mean surface area of the exit wounds in the experimental study was significantly larger than that in the simulation. According to the FE analysis, the stress concentrated zones were mainly located at the region of impact, condylar neck, coronoid process and mandibular body. The simulation results also indicated that trabecular bone had less stress concentration and a lower speed of stress propagation compared with cortical bone. The FE model is appropriate and conforms to the basic principles of wound ballistics. This modeling system will be helpful for further investigations of the biomechanical mechanisms of wound ballistics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The shell-in-shell system used in the mortar simulator raises a number of non-standard technical and computational problems starting from the requirement to distribute the propelling blast energy between the warhead and the ballistic barrel, finishing with the requirement that the length of warhead's flight path must be scaled to combat shell firing tables. The design problem of the simulator is split into two parts – the problem of external ballistics where the initial velocities of the warhead must be determined, and the problem of internal ballistics – where the design of the cartridge and the ballistic barrel must be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2014 Mount Ontake eruption started just before noon on September 27, 2014. It killed 58 people, and five are still missing (as of January 1, 2016). The casualties were mainly caused by the impact of ballistic blocks around the summit area. It is necessary to know the magnitude of the block velocity and energy to construct a hazard map of ballistic projectiles and design effective shelters and mountain huts. The ejection velocities of the ballistic projectiles were estimated by comparing the observed distribution of the ballistic impact craters on the ground with simulated distributions of landing positions under various sets of conditions. A three-dimensional numerical multiparticle ballistic model adapted to account for topographic effect was used to estimate the ejection angles. From these simulations, we have obtained an ejection angle of γ = 20° from vertical to horizontal and α = 20° from north to east. With these ejection angle conditions, the ejection speed was estimated to be between 145 and 185 m/s for a previously obtained range of drag coefficients of 0.62-1.01. The order of magnitude of the mean landing energy obtained using our numerical simulation was 10 J. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft-matrix ballistic laminates (such as those composed of fibres of Ultra High Molecular-Weight Polyethylene, e.g. Dyneema ® HB26 and Spectra Shield) find extensive use as catching type armour systems. The relationship between the lay-up of these laminates with respect to the observed failure mechanisms has not been empirically investigated in the open literature, and is the subject of this work. Lay-ups are characterised by two parameters: (i) sequencing (or interply lay-up angle) θ ¯ and (ii) in-plane anisotropy β , and can be mapped on to θ ¯ – β space. Four geometries that lie at the extrema of this parameter space are designed, built and tested. Testing is through ball bearing impact on circular clamped plates. The anisotropy ( β ) is coupled to the macroscopic response of the plates, while sequencing ( θ ¯ ) is coupled to the microscopic response. Penetration velocity is strongly affected by pull-out at the boundary, and in the present study this is shown to account for two-thirds of the ballistic resistance. The results have implications for validation testing on scaled samples, predictive modelling and simulation, and armour design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The working condition of barrel forcing cone is worse during the firing process of small arms. To study the influence of the forcing cone angles on the stress of barrel forcing cone, the three-dimensional finite element models of barrel and projectile at different forcing cone angles are established, in which the structures of barrel and projectile, and nonlinear constitutive relations are considered. The effects of different forcing cone angles on the projectile engraving process are analyzed. The data of engraving resistance is obtained under the condition of different forcing cone angles. A response surface model of engraving resistance is established. The formula and the variation rules of projectile engraving resistance along with the forcing cone angle and engraving displacement are calculated based on the above data by using Hermite polynomial. A dynamic model of projectile engraving process is established in consideration of the engraving resistance. The engraving pressure during the projectile engraving process is solved by programming. The forcing cone angles among 0.11° and 1.13°, which satisfy the requirement of muzzle velocity of the projectile, are obtained, and then the best forcing cone angle of 0.56°, which could reduce the barrel stress to ensure the highest velocity and meet the design range of forcing cone angles in case of satisfying the interior ballistic behaviors, is got. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to understand the stick–slip (Sk-Sp) properties of para-aramid woven fabrics. For this reason, pullout test was conducted on para-aramid Twaron CT® 716 (CT716) and Twaron CT® 716 (CT714) woven fabrics. The Sk-Sp region and accumulative retraction force region were defined based on the single- or multiple-yarn pullout force–displacement curve. It was found that Sk-Sp force and accumulative retraction force depend on the fabric density and the number of pulled ends in the fabric. Sk-Sp force in the multiple-yarn pullout test was higher than that of the single-yarn pullout test. Sk-Sp force in single- and multiple-yarn pullout tests in the dense CT716 fabric was higher than that of the loose CT714 fabric. In addition, long fabric samples showed high Sk-Sp force compared to that of the short fabric samples. On the other hand, the amount of Sk-Sp force was related to the number of interlacement points in the fabric, whereas the amount of accumulative retraction force was related to fabric structural response. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Highlights User expects his weapon to be light and reliable and to perform multiple times firing per unit time at the same time. In today's technology, the maximum number of firings can be made per unit time with steel barreled weapons, but in composite barrels; many problems occur due to overheating, strength and reliability. Meeting these opposite demands is an engineering problem. In this study, the design of a composite‐steel combination light gun barrel is studied. Firstly, pressure distribution through the barrel has been calculated using Vallier‐Heydenreich method. According to the calculations, analysis has been conducted using both steel barrel and composite barrel. After the analysis, a composite barrel has been manufactured and testing has been conducted on an all‐steel barrel and the manufactured composite barrel. Composite is carbon fiber and resin is epoxy resin. In composite material, carbon fiber is preferred at the rates of 50% and 60%, the material of the steel barrel is AISI 416R stainless steel. The manufactured steel barrels have the same outer diameter but different wall thickness ratios, firing tests were conducted in such a way that the number of shots per unit time was the same. Stress distribution within a gun barrel was calculated using Vallier‐Heydenreich method. Design and finite element analysis analysis for an all‐steel gun barrel and a composite gun barrel was conducted. A composite gun barrel was manufactured; by using composite materials, the barrel was lightened by 24.8%. The manufactured composite gun barrel and an all‐steel gun barrel were tested by firing over 2500 shots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TASER weapons, classified as Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs) are used by law enforcement as electrical, non-lethal weapons. A CEW's long distance method of deployment launches two barbed probes that embed into the target, before electricity is cycled from one probe to the other. The resulting muscle contractions help incapacitate the intended target. Currently, there is no research on the accuracy of variability of CEW probe spread in determining the distance of the shooter. Thus, in this study, a method of distance determination for TASER models X26P, X2, and TASER 7 was established to help estimate the relative locations of individuals during crime scene reconstruction. Each of four probe cartridge types were launched for six repetitions towards vertical cardboard targets from three different distances (n = 72). The probe spread on the targets was measured for each cartridge and plotted against CEW-To-Target (CTT) distance. Linear regression trendlines and standard deviations were generated for each cartridge type. Results demonstrated probe spread distances to be proportional to probe launch angles, and greater CTT distances resulted in greater standard deviation. Standard error of the estimate was calculated for all four linear regression equations and their ability to predict CTT distance when given probe spread measurements. The mean standard error values appeared acceptable for the X2 (0.460 m), TASER 7 CQ (0.273 m), and X26P (0.322 m) CEW models, while the mean error calculated for the TASER 7 Standoff model (0.846 m) was considerably greater. We expect our findings will help establish a reliable method of distance determination for CEWs, and perhaps with a larger sample size, more thoroughly examine the accuracy of the linear regression equations. CEW distance determination has the potential to provide support in contextualizing crime scene reconstruction with further research. By providing distance estimations alongside a standardized guide of error allowance, it would be possible to induce how far apart individuals were at the time a CEW was fired, within the calculated window of deviation, and in a statistical degree of confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Internal ballistics simulation of hybrid rocket engines burning liquefying fuels • Application of CFD to the simulation of the hybrid rocket engines internal ballistics • Development of an in-depth fuel pyrolysis model to calculate the surface temperature of liquefying fuels • Refinement and application of a liquid-entrainment model for the fuel regression rate calculation • Demonstration of the employed CFD model capability to reproduce the experimental data from engine hot fires A novel methodology for the calculation of the surface temperature of liquefying fuels typically burned in hybrid rockets is proposed. This procedure stems from the formulation of a fuel in-depth pyrolysis model coupled with the resolution of the thermo-fluid-dynamic field in the rocket combustion chamber, which allows for the characterization of the unstable liquid layer formed on top of the fuel surface. The aim is the simulation of the internal ballistics of hybrid rocket engines fed by paraffin-based fuels without the need for parametrically assigning the surface temperature to match the experimental data as, indeed, required in the authors' previous work. With the presented technique, surface temperature and fuel vaporization rate are calculated locally along the wall, and, with the integration of a liquid fuel entrainment model, which requires the tuning of just one parameter (i.e. the so-called entrainment factor), the fuel regression rate is determined. The overall numerical approach, upon the assumption that the liquid fuel is in the supercritical pressure regime, is based on the solution of the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations for single-phase multicomponent turbulent reacting flow. A series of numerical simulations are carried out to unveil the effect of the oxygen mass flux, which allowed deriving an approximate analytical equation for the regression rate prediction. A set of hot fires of a laboratory-scale hybrid rocket are reproduced through single numerical simulations carried out on the fuel port average geometry in the burn to validate the computational model, showing deviations between the measured and predicted average regression rate less than 4.5%. In order to fairly match also the fuel consumption axial profile, transient numerical simulations over the entire engine firing are conducted with which the post-burn port shape is captured with maximum error of 8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firearm and ballistics in an important area in forensic investigation. Among three ballistics, terminal ballistics plays a vital role in to solve the mystery in crime scenes. The present experimental study is aimed to study the damage pattern caused on Malaysian made hollow blocks by using various firearm. For the experimental study, firearms viz. 0.38 revolver, 9mm submachine gun, 9 mm semi auto pistol, 5.56 mm rifle and 7.62 mm rifle were used with varying ranges. The shooting experiment was conducted at Sungai Buloh shooting range by trained firearms experts, Polis Di Raja Malaysia, Bukit Aman. Kuala Lumpur. The entry and exit damages were analyzed and the result of the investigation provided promising result in determining the type of firearm and other useful information. The entry damages are found to be comparatively smaller than the exit damages in the hollow blocks. The long arms caused more damages on the hollow blocks comparatively than hand arms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Projectile components that are traditionally radiolucent can be of considerable importance in determination of weapon type and caliber, but they are often missed on evaluation of postmortem radiographs. We hypothesized that these components would be significantly better visualized by evaluation of computed tomography (CT) scans compared to the practice standard of radiography alone. In this project, potentially radiolucent projectile components were both pulled apart and fired, and the radiolucent components were recovered. These components were embedded in blocks of ballistics gelatin and were imaged using both radiography and CT. The scans were evaluated by three blinded, board‐certified radiologists for the presence/absence of projectile components and true‐negative regions in each block. If a radiologist indicated visualization of a projectile component, they were further requested to describe their observation. It was found that traditionally radiolucent projectile components are not significantly more often identified on CT scans than radiography (p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost 60 years after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the majority of Americans are still reluctant to believe official reports presented by the commissions gathered in 1964 and again in 1976 that determined the direction of the shot resulting in the fatal head injury. Long-withheld, confidential government files released in 2017 reignited the controversy. The present investigation computationally simulated projectile-skull-impacts from the direction specified in official reports and from three other directions. Detailed geometric models of the human head and ammunition, as well as known parameters from the assassination site served as the supportive base for analysis. Constitutive mathematical models for the impact of projectile material with skull tissues at supersonic speed were employed to analyze bone and bullet fragmentation mechanics. Simulated fracture characteristics of bone and bullet were compared with photographic and X-ray evidence. The most likely origin of the fatal shot was determined based on the degree of corresponding deformation and fragmentation between simulation and documented evidence. Computational corroboration could be established as physically consistent with high-speed impact from the rear, as established by the official commissions. Simulations of three other speculative shot origins did not correspond with the documented evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the calculation of the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics within the ballistic limit involving the metal-oxide tunnel transistors (MOTT). What the gate transconductance improves; Discussion on the saturation (knee) point and three modes of current transport across the device; How the low-voltage current saturation for MOTT is obtained.

The terminal ballistics of long-rod penetrators is a very complex field of research involving high pressure physics, continuum mechanics, material science and high strain rate phenomena. The research in this field is advanced through experimental data collection, engineering models, and numerical simulations. In the present paper, we summarize some of our recent work which is focused on determining the important material parameters in the interaction of long rods with various targets (both stationary and moving). Our basic goal is to be able to account for various phenomena encountered in the experiments, rather than reproduce the data very accurately. We achieve this goal by using the minimal set of material parameters which is needed in order to highlight the basic features in the interaction. We also show how 3D numerical simulations help to establish a simple model for the complex interaction between a tungsten alloy rod and a moving steel plate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There is an abundance of experimental data on the ballistic performance of sporting shotguns. However the successful development of computational models, that will help to reduce the commercial and environmental costs of extensive test programs, has been elusive. This paper describes the development and evaluation of a 3-D model that uses a commercial implementation of the distinct element method. The simulation gives realistic results for the effect of muzzle chokes on the spread of shot and provides evidence to support the well-known belief of practical shooters that a tapered constriction of 0.040" (1.02 mm) in barrel diameter, the so-called `full-choke', produces the optimum shot pattern. Detailed investigation of the internal ballistics of the shotgun shows that the reduction in diameter at the choke serves to compress the shot laterally as it exits the gun barrel. This affects the severity of interparticle collisions, creating a tighter, more uniform pattern. The accuracy of the computational results in the absence of air resistance tends to imply that the internal ballistics, rather than aerodynamic drag, dominates the shot pattern, although not the penetration power, over short ranges. Useful predictions of shotgun performance might then be obtained without resorting to full computational fluid dynamics simulation or to extensive field trials. Units: Obsolescent British `Imperial' units such as inches (") and ounces (oz.) and pounds (lb.) are still in widespread use for some of the critical dimensions and weights relating to firearms and ammunition, especially in legal definitions and in everyday speech. These units are retained in the text when appropriate. Equivalent ISO units are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Ballistic impact tests on 4 mm thick Weldox 700 E steel plates struck by blunt rigid projectiles were conducted and a failure mode of shear plugging was identified in the tests. • The strength and fracture models of the steel were calibrated using a hybrid experimental-numerical method. • FE simulations were carried out by using either a modified version of the Johnson-Cook (MJC) fracture criterion or the Lode dependent Modified Mohr–Coulomb (MMC) fracture criterion. • FE simulations using the MJC and MMC fracture criteria predicted almost the same ballistic performance of the targets. • For targets of Lode dependent fracture, FE simulations showed that the Lode dependent fracture criterion would predict a much lower ballistic limit for less ductile targets. However, for targets with high ductility, introducing the Lode angle into the fracture criterion would not obviously alter the ballistic limit prediction. Abstract The necessity of incorporating the Lode angle into a fracture criterion in predicting ballistic resistance of ductile metal plates has not been well elucidated so far although the ductility of a metal may be Lode dependent. In this paper, 4.0 mm thick Weldox 700 E steel plates were fired by 5.95 mm diameter blunt rigid projectiles in a one-stage gas gun in the impact velocity range of 141.2 m/s∼275.7 m/s. A failure mode of shear plugging was observed in the test and the ballistic limit was obtained by fitting the initial-residual velocity data. An axisymmetric finite element (FE) model corresponding to the test was built in ABAQUS and then was utilized to predict the ballistic resistance and fracture behavior of the targets. In the FE model, a slightly modified Johnson-Cook constitutive relation was companied by either a Lode independent modified Johnson-Cook (MJC) or the Lode dependent modified Mohr–Coulomb (MMC) fracture criterion. The plasticity and fracture of the metal were fully calibrated by a series of mechanical tests under varying stress states, strain rates and temperatures. According to the tests and parallel FE simulations, it was found that the fracture of Weldox 700 E is obviously Lode dependent. However, ballistic simulations using the MMC and MJC fracture criterion predicted very close ballistic limit velocity and similar shear plugging failure mode when compared with the test results. The dominant stress state of the material failed in the process of shear plugging was revealed by detailed FE analysis and it was found that the ductility of the metal is quite different on the dominant stress state according to the two fracture criteria. To interpret the current simulation results, further FE simulations were carried out on fictitious metals and it was found that for less ductile metallic plates the MMC fracture criterion predicts a much lower ballistic limit velocity (as much as 22%) when compared with the simulation result from the MJC fracture criterion. In contrast, for metal plates with high ductility, the simulations from the two different fracture criteria would produce quite close ballistic limit velocity predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Ballistic resistance evaluated for fabric-metal assemblies, as well as their metal and fabric components. • Significant effect of fabric-metal sequence on ballistic resistance of fabric-metal assemblies, which varies with number of fabric plies in the assembly. • Analysis of interaction between fabric plies and metal plate for various fabric-metal sequences. • Explanation of the influence of fabric-metal sequence on ballistic resistance based on the interaction between fabric plies and metal plate. Abstract Fabrics woven from high-strength fibres are increasingly employed for protection against projectile impact, because of superior mechanical properties. In some applications, high-strength fabrics are combined with metallic components to provide sufficient structural rigidity and strength – e.g. for vehicle bodies, turbine engine fragment barriers, building doors, etc. An understanding of how the fabric-metal layer sequence affects the resulting ballistic resistance, is essential for effective design of such fabric-metal assemblies. This motivates the current study, whereby multiple plies (1, 2 or 4) of Twaron (T) aramid fabric were combined with an aluminium alloy (A) thin plate to form a lightweight protective panel. The projectile impact penetration resistance of three types of fabric-metal arrangements were examined – i) the aluminium alloy plate as the impact face; ii) the Twaron fabric as the impacted layer; iii) the aluminium alloy plate sandwiched between fabric layers. For assemblies with a smaller number of fabric plies (i.e. 1 or 2), siting the aluminium alloy plate as the rearmost layer results in a significantly higher impact energy absorption capacity, compared to having the aluminium alloy plate as the impact face – e.g. for (A+1T) assemblies, i.e. Al plate+1 ply of Twaron, 1T/A (impact face layer appears first in this nomenclature) performs much better than A/1T. For (A+2T) assemblies, 2T/A provides the highest impact resistance, A/2T is the weakest, and 1T/A/1T lies in between. However, when the number of fabric plies is increased to 4, a variety of responses was observed. An A/4T configuration absorbs significantly higher energy than a 4T/A arrangement, while a symmetrical 2T/A/2T sequence absorbs less energy than either an A/4T or 4T/A configuration. High-speed optical photography images and post-test specimens were analysed, to examine the deformation and failure modes of the fabric plies and Al plate in the fabric-metal targets, and how they are affected by the fabric-metal sequence. These help identify the interaction between the fabric plies and Al plate for various fabric-metal sequences, in order to account for the phenomena observed in experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has recently been an increase in the research and implementation of advanced measurement techniques to ballistic toolmark identification. This has led to a shift from greyscale imaging to the acquisition of dense areal datasets. With the addition of mathematical correlation algorithms, these advanced techniques will be advantageous in criminal investigation. However, with the use of areal topography comes the addition of height point data which may differ in primer caps of varying material composition. This study discusses the differences in the overall topography of firing pin impressions in different primer cap materials, and the effect it has on the successful correlation of ballistic toolmark evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The ballistic reliability of composite armors is significantly affected by the random material properties. In this paper, the mosaic SiC ceramics/ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite targets with bonding adhesives are tested near the limit ballistic penetration conditions. The uncertain material and adhesive properties led to complete penetration and partial penetration at bullet initial velocity of 776 m/s and 791 m/s, respectively, and a contrary tendency is also observed in the tests between the bulging deformation and the minimum target thickness of back plate. A state function of penetration for reliability evaluation is formulated based on a validated numerical model. Results from sensitivity analysis indicate that twelve uncertain material parameters are strongly sensitive to the penetration state. Then, the ballistic reliability under the test velocities is obtained by both Monte Carlo method and design point method. Finally, an optimization problem with a probability constraint is established in order to achieve a minimum deformation. The results show that the bulging deformation and the value of penetration state function vary with the adhesive strengths oppositely. Therefore, the adhesive strengths are designed to control the contradiction between the deformation and the minimum target thickness. It is significant to recognize the uncertain properties of composite armors and to improve the ballistic performance against armor-piercing bullet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Law enforcement agencies routinely sample for gunshot residue (GSR) by bulk techniques and often submit swabs taken from other surfaces besides the hands of the suspect shooter. This study aims to establish the prevalence of antimony, barium, and lead on normally handled automobile surfaces by graphite furnace atomic absorption analysis. No positives were determined on 50 sampled automobile surfaces above cutoff (positive) from background levels. Transfers of GSR particles from shooter hands to automobile surfaces were found to potentially allow for positive GSR determinations, but such transfers seem to be dependent on the shooting conditions and length of GSR exposure. We determined that our bulk analysis method yields an overall 87.94 ± 5.52% extraction efficiency from cotton swabs, while the LOQ determinations strengthening the fact that bulk analysis methods are valid and valuable tools for GSR investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Glock company's newest generation of pistols (G42/43, Gen5) is equipped with so-called "Glock Marksman Barrels" (GMB). These barrels feature an enhanced polygonal profile with right-hand twist and a small rifled profile on either side of the main polygonal field impression (Hernandez et al., 2016). Up until now, using the usual methods of comparison (automatic ballistic identification systems, ABIS and comparison microscope) it was difficult to assign bullets fired from a polygonal barrel to their origin with a high evidentiary value (Murdock et al., 1990) [5] (Northcutt, 2010). In this study, test shots from 18 Glock Gen5 pistols (9 Glock 17 pistols and 9 Glock 19 pistols) were compared to examine their differentiability. In addition, a Gen5 Glock 17 pistol was used to shoot 500 cartridges to determine to what degree the first projectile could be matched with the 500th (Zhang and Luo, 2018) [10]. This study was able to demonstrate that the new "Glock Marksman Barrel" (GMB) leaves marks of sufficient quality on projectiles to make high evidentiary value assignments of those projectiles to an individual firearm, both by using the comparison microscope as well as with an ABIS (Evofinder®). Further, it was possible to assign the cartridge casings to an individual pristine firearm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review describes and classifies the trajectories of sports projectiles that have spherical symmetry, cylindrical symmetry, or (almost) no symmetry. This classification allows us to discuss the large diversity observed in the paths of spherical balls, the flip properties of shuttlecocks, and the optimal position and stability of ski jumpers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural and system reliability of a typical jet vane (JV) thrust vector control (TVC) subsystem subjected to stochastic loadings is investigated. Jet vane TVC (JVTVC) is used in many aerospace liquid and solid propulsion systems. For the purpose of this work, JVTVC structural reliability of a solid rocket propulsion system is computed using an explicit closed-form limit state function. The JV structure is influenced by the internal ballistic loads emanating out of the solid rocket propulsion internal ballistic, whose performance is modeled via a one-dimensional uniform flow assumption at the engine steady operating condition. Subsequently, JV structural reliability is predicted using the methods of mean value first-order second-moment as well as the first- and second-order reliability methods. The reliability results of the analytical methods are compared with Monte Carlo simulation for verification purposes. Finally, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the key JVTVC and solid rocket propulsion design parameters affecting the TVC total system reliability. The parameters considered for sensitivity analysis include the JV geometric and structural properties as well as the solid rocket propulsion ballistic and geometric features. It turned out that the vane support arm radius and the vane area are the most important strength and load design variables, respectively, that impact the JVTVC failure reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparing the marks left on questioned bullets to those left on reference bullets is the main aim of a firearm identification expertise. Thus, producing reference bullets with a questioned firearm is an essential step. Different kinds of system have been developed to safely recover bullets fired from questioned firearms. However, the performance of each system and its impact on traces left on the bullets have not been addressed. Three bullet recovery systems - a horizontal water tank, a cotton tube and a recently designed fleece - were used to fire seven types of ammunition of various type, shape and casing. The bullets were then described and images of their surface were acquired with an automatic system to study the impact of each system on the bullets. The water tank is the more efficient system in terms of quality of the marks. However, it cannot be used to fire every type of ammunition. Some of them, such those used by law enforcement, tend to be damaged with this system. A way to mitigate the problem is to use the cotton or the fleece-based systems, the latter being more universal. It requires a cleaning step to remove all the fibres from the surface of the bullet, but the marks left by the weapon are still of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners recommends a minimum of two test fires be performed when an unknown firearm is submitted to a laboratory prior to doing a comparison with a cartridge case collected from a crime scene. Limited research has been performed to determine how many test fires are necessary to be representative of the match distribution of a firearm. Various makes and models of firearms comprising five calibers were tested using a hybrid equivalence test to determine how many cartridge cases were required to represent the match distribution of an unknown firearm based on both breech face and firing pin correlation scores from an IBIS® HeritageTM System. The same general trend was observed for each caliber of firearm where the equivalence percentage increased from 10 to 30 cartridge cases. Overall, 15 cartridge cases are sufficient for above an 80% probability of representing the full match distribution for an unknown firearm. To approach full equivalence, 25 cartridge cases are enough because 30 cartridge cases were not found to be significantly higher in equivalence percentage for any caliber of firearm tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present a numerical model to simulate the ballistic impact of a rigid right circular cylinder (RCC) projectile into a woven fabric target. The numerical solution of transverse ballistic impact on a laminar biaxial fabric is obtained using a forward finite-difference method. The ballistic impact analysis for different materials of targets made of aramid and polyethylene fibers are simulated to investigate the effect of fabric material on the ballistic resistance. Numerical simulations are performed to reveal the influences of crimp factor and fabric material on the ballistic performance of woven fabrics. Various cases have been presented showing the variations of yarn strains, yarn velocities, and yarn displacements over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information discussing the space charge limited ballistic electron transport through double quantum well segments. Simulation of three different structures; How the anode currents in the structures oscillate; Increasing of the space charge.

Discusses the influence of resonant multi-mode pumping has on a coherent far infrared field within a ballistic quantum channel. Characterizing of frequencies of the mode spectrum; Expectancy of the Rabi oscillations; How these oscillations are exploited.

Shows the resonant interaction of electrons in a quantum ballistic channel with a strong electromagnetic field. Photoconductance of quantum point contact; Spatial modulation of the charge distribution; Emergence of Rabi oscillations in the mode population; Proposed used of an array of gates to simulate a moving quantum contact.

While the morphological appearance of injuries due to powder-actuated captive bolt stunners has been extensively investigated, medicolegal literature contains, except for one work by Nadjem and Pollak (Arch Kriminol 203:91-102), no further investigations into the physical impact characteristics of these sharp-edged circular punching tools. However, basic physical parameters, such as bolt velocity, momentum, kinetic energy, and energy density, play a crucial role in the medicolegal and traumatological assessment of captive bolt stunners and the related injuries. And also, regulatory bodies demand a reliable and repeatable measurement test set-up for the determination of captive bolt stunners' impact characteristics. Therefore, it is the aim of this work to design and describe a test set-up based on one single photoelectric light barrier and to determine the impact parameters for a series of newly developed cal. 6.8/15 stunning devices. We found that bolt velocity ranges from v = 42 to 54 m/s, while momentum ranges from p = 11 to 14 Ns, and kinetic energy reaches values from E = 224 to 369 J. The efficiency of the captive bolt stunner, defined as the ratio of the kinetic energy of the stunner's bolt to the potential energy of industrial blank cartridges, also described in this work for the first time, was found to vary between 36 and 46 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A potato cannon was designed to accommodate several different experimental propellants and have a transparent barrel so the movement of the projectile could be recorded on high-speed video (at 2000 frames per second). Five experimental propellants were tested: propane (C3H8), acetylene (C2H2), ethanol (C2H6O), methanol (CH4O) and butane (C4H10). The quantity of each experimental propellant was calculated to approximate a stoichometric mixture and considering the upper and lower flammability limits, which in turn were affected by the volume of the combustion chamber. Cylindrical projectiles were cut from raw potatoes so that there was an airtight fit, and each weighed 50 (± 0.5) g. For each trial, position as a function of time was determined via frameby- frame analysis. Five trials were made for each experimental propellant and the results analyzed to compute velocity and acceleration as functions of time. Additional quantities, including force on the potato and the pressure applied to the potato, were also computed. For each experimental propellant average velocity versus barrel position curves were plotted. The most effective experimental propellant was defined as that which accelerated the potato to the highest muzzle velocity. The experimental propellant acetylene performed the best on average (138.1 m s-1), followed by methanol (48.2 m s-1), butane (34.6 m s-1), ethanol (33.3 m s-1) and propane (27.9 m s-1), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ballistic performance of monolithic targets perforated in ductile formation by rigid projectiles can be reasonably approximated by an energy balance based on the work done in expanding a hole from zero initial radius to that of the penetrating projectile. For a specific projectile, these energy balance laws can be expressed in terms of a simple scaling law which requires an empirical fit to ballistic data. However, once this fit has been performed for a specific projectile against a specific target material, predicting the performance of other materials against this projectile can be done from a simple quasi-static compression stress–strain curve, provided the target is perforated in ductile hole formation. Four variations of ductile hole formation analytical and semi-empirical models have been reformulated as scaling laws and evaluated for their ability to characterise the performance of monolithic aluminium plates impacted by 7.62 mm APM2 projectiles at normal incidence. The database used to fit and evaluate the performance of the scaling laws incorporates more than 1600 V 50 measurements against 24 different alloys and tempering/strain-hardening combinations with thicknesses ranging from 16.2 to 63.5 mm. The highest performing scaling law formulation was found to characterize the measured V 50 to within 5% of the experimental value for over 97% of the database entries. Further improvements in accuracy are likely impossible when representative stress–strain curves are used for performance characterization rather than tests of each individual plate used in the ballistic tests. The scaling law can be applied to predict the performance of targets perforated in ductile hole formation with a high level of confidence, an example of which is provided for the 12.7 mm APM2 projectile against a range of aluminium alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We describe several examples where we use cross-correlation functions to quantify the similarity of 2D surface profiles or of 3D areal surface topography images. The applications have included (1) the manufacture of standard reference material (SRM) bullets and casings, (2) methods to assess whether bullets or casings have been fired by the same firearm, and (3) research to quantify similarities or differences between profiles of the same surface measured by different techniques or between a master surface and its replicas. The cross-correlation maximum is the functional parameter used to quantify similarity. A second parameter, called the relative profile (2D) difference or relative areal topography (3D) difference, may also be used to quantify differences and to recognize the ambiguous condition when two results have different vertical (z-) scales but identical shapes. Most of these examples have been applied in support of ballistics inspection methods in crime labs, but the methods are generally useful for estimating the accuracy of surface replication techniques or the ability of different surface topography instruments to measure the same surface and provide the same result. The instruments used in these studies were a stylus instrument and a Nipkow-disk type confocal microscope. Cross-correlation functions may also be used to assess differences resulting from the use of different filters to modify the same surface profile or topography image. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In wound ballistic research, gelatine blocks of various dimensions are used depending on the simulated anatomical region. When relatively small blocks are used as substitute for a head, problems with regard to the expansion of the gelatine block could arise. The study was conducted to analyse the influence of the material the gelatine block is placed upon. Thirty-six shots were performed on 12 cm gelatine cubes doped with thin foil bags containing acrylic paint. Eighteen blocks each were placed on a rigid table or on a synthetic sponge of 5 cm height. Deforming bullets with different kinetic energies were fired from distance and recorded by a high-speed video camera. Subsequently, the gelatine cubes were cut into 1 cm thick slices which were scanned using a flatbed scanner. Cracks in the gelatine were analysed by measuring the longest crack, Fackler's wound profile and the polygon (perimeter and area) outlining the ends of the cracks. The energy dissipated ranged from 153 to 707 J. For moderate energy transfer, no significant influence of the sustaining material was discerned. With increasing dissipated energy, the sponge was compressed correspondingly, and the cracks were longer than in gelatine blocks which had been placed on a table. High-speed video revealed a loss of symmetry and a flattened inferior margin of the temporary cavity with energies superior to approx. Two hundred Joules when the blocks were placed on a rigid platform. However, 12 cm gelatine cubes showed material limits by a non-linear response when more than 400 J were dissipated for both rigid and elastic sustainment. In conclusion, the smaller the gelatine blocks and the greater the energy transfers, the more important it is to take into account the counterfort of the sustaining material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A particle ballistics model is proposed to predict the landing position of granular fertilizer particles ejected from fixed-wing agricultural aircraft. The model is a single-particle model that predicts flight trajectory from the particle force balance based on the aircraft ground speed, axial and tangential propeller wash, wind characteristics, and particle properties including sphericity. As an input, the model relies on known exit velocities from the spreader device mounted underneath the aircraft. When simplified, the mathematics for a particle falling vertically in quiescent air is the same as that developed by Grift et al., 1997[Trans. ASAE 40(1): 13-20]. Without the propeller wash model, comparison is made to the lateral prediction of Bansal et al., 1998 [Trans. ASAE 41(3): 537-544], who used a simpler model for which similar results and similar trends are obtained. Lastly, with the propeller wash model turned on, model predictions are compared to predictions from AGDISP 8.15. Again, results and trends are similar. The model takes the first step in creating a system to evaluate the performance of agricultural aircraft with respect to delivering variable-rate application technology. The next step is to include a gatebox/distributor model so that a transverse spread distribution pattern can be generated by running the model multiple times, and then to validate this against field measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second part of the work is devoted to studying the motion of fragmenting meteor bodies with ablation by fragments in a planet’s atmosphere, taking into account its non-isothermal character in altitude. The mechanical fragmentation of a meteoroid under the action of aerodynamic drag is considered in the context of statistical strength theory. An analytical solution for ballistics of a fragmenting body is obtained at a constant parameter of ablation. A theoretical analysis of the derived regularities is made and an example of their usage in the problem of a comet-asteroid hazard is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]