Browsing by Author "Malbon, Christopher"

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    Comparison of Backing Materials used in the Testing of Ballistic Protective Body Armour
    (Cranfield University, 2018-11-15 17:06) Malbon, Christopher
    Poster presented at the 2018 Defence and Security Doctoral Symposium.The ballistic testing of personal body armour against a standard (NIJ, HOSDB, VPAM etc) has typically been performed with the armour mounted on a block of Roma™ Plastilina No1. This artists' modelling clay enables the deformation of non-perforated armour due to the impact to be measured and compared against a requirement (typical 25 or 44mm back face signature).However, whilst Roma™ Plastilina No 1 has enabled comparative testing of body armour, and has a proven record in terms of lives saved, it does not provide a biofidelic response to the impact, which may be impeding the development of lighter and more ergonomic armour solutions.To aid in the development of alternative backing materials for the testing of ballistic protective armour, a comparison trial was conducted comparing the response of three different backings, Roma™ Plastilina No 1, 10% (by mass) gelatine and a man-made synthetic material (SEBS) to a ballistic impact on a body armour.This poster presents the method, results and reviews the data.
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    Comparison of porcine thorax to gelatine blocks for wound
    (2016-02-04) Mabbott, A.; Carr, Debra J.; Champion, Stephen M.; Malbon, Christopher
    Tissue simulants are typically used in ballistic testing as substitutes for biological tissues. Many simulants have been used, with gelatine amongst the most common. While two concentrations of gelatine (10 and 20 %) have been used extensively, no agreed standard exists for the preparation of either. Comparison of ballistic damage produced in both concentrations is lacking. The damage produced in gelatine is also questioned, with regards to what it would mean for specific areas of living tissue. The aim of the work discussed in this paper was to consider how damage caused by selected pistol and rifle ammunition varied in different simulants. Damage to gelatine blocks 10 and 20 % in concentration were tested with 9 mm Luger (9 × 19 full metal jacket; FMJ) rounds, while damage produced by .223 Remington (5.56 × 45 Federal Premium® Tactical® Bonded®) rounds to porcine thorax sections (skin, underlying tissue, ribs, lungs, ribs, underlying tissue, skin; backed by a block of 10 % gelatine) were compared to 10 and 20 % gelatine blocks. Results from the .223 Remington rifle round, which is one that typically expands on impact, revealed depths of penetration in the thorax arrangement were significantly different to 20 % gelatine, but not 10 % gelatine. The level of damage produced in the simulated thoraxes was smaller in scale to that witnessed in both gelatine concentrations,though greater debris was produced in the thoraxes.
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    Effect of bra type on body armour comfort and fit - raw data
    (Cranfield University, 2021-04-07 11:38) Malbon, Christopher
    Bra type and sizing of female police officers from England and Wales. Including 3D body scanning measurements in relation to the upper torso. Survey results of pre and post wearing of a cohort of female police officers in recently fitted underwired and sports bras.
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    The effect of breast size and bra type on comfort for UK female police officers wearing body armour
    (Elsevier, 2019-12-05) Malbon, Christopher; Knock, Clare; Critchley, Richard; Carr, Debra J.
    Within the Police service of England and Wales the wearing of ballistic and stab resistant body armour is common, with most police forces mandating its usage when away from the police station. Of all the serving police officers in England and Wales 29.1% are female (Hargreaves et al., 2017). A survey was developed and then distributed by the Police Federation of England and Wales to all servicing police officers up to the rank of Inspector. The survey returned 2633 responses after cleaning of the data. From the responses it was seen that the predominant bra type worn is underwired (71%) and the predominant UK bra size is 34B (9%). It was also determined that the predominant areas where the body armour either rubbed or caused discomfort were the left and right anterior mammary regions and the posterior lateral sacral region. By understanding the distribution of bra size, type of bra worn and areas of discomfort or rubbing it helps further understand the issues faced by female police officers and how body armour design could be improved.
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    The effect of underwired and sports bras on breast shape, key anthropometric dimensions, and body armour comfort
    (Sage, 2021-04-23) Malbon, Christopher; Knock, Clare; Critchley, Richard; Carr, Debra J.
    This study follows on previous research which investigated the comfort and types of bras worn by UK female police officers when wearing body armour and performing typical activities. This controlled study involved a cohort of 31 female police officers and investigated three main areas. Firstly the effect of professional bra fitting on size and comfort, secondly the effect of wearing an underwired bra or a sports bra on comfort and ability to perform certain actions, and thirdly the effect of an underwired bra and sports bra on key anthropometric data in relation to the fitting of body armour.
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    Effects of salt water on the ballistic protective performance of bullet-resistant body armour
    (SAGE, 2018-11-09) Dodd, S.; Malbon, Christopher; Critchley, Richard; Lankester, Claire; O’Rourke, S.; Corke, T.; Carr, Debra J.
    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 from 9 mm Luger FMJ ammunition when compared to not-exposed armour irrespective of cover condition. A degradation in performance of armours exposed to soaking and drying cycles was noted, but this was similar across all regimes considered (one, three, five and ten cycles) and not as great as for wet armours.
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    Female police body armour : improving comfort, protection, and testing.
    (2021) Malbon, Christopher; Carr, Debra J.; Knock, Clare; Critchley, Richard
    There is a paucity of published research into female body armour resulting in a lack of evolution in design and testing solutions. A series of surveys and experiments were designed to extend the knowledge relating to female body armour, focusing on comfort, protection, and testing. Comfort was shown to be improved through professional fitting and sizing of new bras, with a sports bra being reported as most comfortable after refitting by 77% of participants. Statistically significant differences in key anthropometric measurements around the breast area were identified between bra types, including bust to bust length, bust circumference, and bust prominence. Exposure of the anterior lateral region of the body was greater compared to the posterior lateral region for female police officers, particularly around the breast area, (exposed anterior lateral breast area – underwired bra: mean 55%, max 72%; sports bra: mean 57%, max 75%). A comparison of three backing materials used for the assessment of back face signature (BFS): Roma Plastilina No1 (RP1); 10% ballistic gelatine; SEBS gel; showed that there were statistically significant differences between the three materials. 10% ballistic gelatine had the greatest variation in measured BFS with both projectiles (9mm; BFS 21.5 – 42.3mm: 0.357”; BFS 31.5 – 67.3mm). RP1 had the smallest variance in measured BFS with both projectiles (9mm; BFS 17.6 – 30.9 mm: 0.357”; BFS 18.9 – 32.5 mm), however, there were statistically significant differences in the spread of results for RP1. The knowledge gained is enabling the development of new guidance for female police officers on improvement in comfort when wearing body armour by the Police Federation. Designers of body armour have information on the effects of bra type on breast shape enabling future designs of body armour to be more tailored to shape, enable a better fit, and reduce the risk of air gaps under the armour. Understanding of the differences in three backing materials will enhance the development of future testing methods for female body armour, which will deliver improvements in the safety of body armour.
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    Female Police body armour: Improving comfort, protection, and testing
    (Cranfield University, 2021-07-26 16:23) Malbon, Christopher
    Data for Chapters 3 to 6 of Chris Malbon PhD (2020)
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    A preliminary study into injuries due to non-perforating ballistic impacts into soft body armour over the spine
    (Elsevier, 2018-05-22) Jennings, Rosalind M.; Malbon, Christopher; Brock, Fiona; Harrisson, Stuart; Carr, Debra J.
    The UK Home Office test method for ballistic protective police body armours considers anterior torso impacts to be the worst-case scenario and tests rear armour panels to the same standards as front panels. The aim of this paper was to examine the injuries from spinal behind armour blunt trauma (BABT) impacts. This study used a cadaveric 65 kg, female pig barrel and 9 mm Luger ammunition (9 × 19 mm, FMJ Nammo Lapur Oy) into HG1/A + KR1 soft armour panels over the spine. Injuries were inspected and sections removed for x-radiography and micro-CT assessment. All shots over the spine resulted in deep soft tissue injuries from pencilling of the armour and the shirt worn under the armour. The wounds had embedded fabric debris which would require surgery to remove resulting in increased recovery time over injuries usually seen in anterior torso BABT impacts, which are typically haematoma and fractured ribs. The shot with the deepest soft tissue wound (41 mm) also resulted in a fractured spinous process. Shots were also fired at the posterior and anterior rib area of the pig barrel, for comparison to the spine. Similar wounds were seen on the shots to the posterior rib area while shallower, smaller wounds were seen on the anterior and one anterior rib shot resulted in a single, un-displaced rib fracture. The anatomical differences between pigs and humans would most likely mean that injury to a human from these impacts would be more serious.
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    The protective performance of selected UK police body armor challenged by M75 grenades
    (International Ballistics Society, 2017-09-15) Cahill, Keith; Booth, Michael; Mercer, Jamie; Sabha, Anmar; Carr, Debra J.; Malbon, Christopher
    UK Police ‘soft’ body armor is designed to provide protection from sharp-weapons and low-velocity pistol ammunition; if ‘hard’ armor plates are fitted then high-velocity rifle protection is provided. Several different levels of protection for both soft and hard armor are available and these are tailored to the individual police officers’ role. The level of protection offered by these types of armor from fragmentation threats is not known as fragmentation is not typically considered a threat to UK Police Officers. However, fragmentation from devices such as grenades may be a threat to certain specialized units and during terrorist incidents. In this work, neither the soft nor hard UK Police body armor (HG2 and RF1 respectively) investigated were perforated when challenged by M75 Yugoslavian grenades at a distance of 1 m from the point of detonation. The effect due to blast was not considered. The work has provided confidence regarding the performance of selected police body armor against fragmentation from a selected grenade threat.
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    Survey data-UK female police-2016-Excel format.xlsx
    (Cranfield University, 2019-11-21 15:02) Malbon, Christopher
    This data was collated from over 2000 female police officers in relation to the wearing of body armour, bra type and size, discomfort and ability to perform simple task. The data relates to officers from the police forces of England and Wales only, collected in 2016
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    Victim’s posture and protective clothing changes the approach in an edged-weapon attack
    (International Ballistics Society, 2017-09-15) Carr, Debra J.; Mahoney, Peter F.; Godhania, K.; Cowper, Elizabeth J.; Malbon, Christopher
    Diverse groups of people use edged-weapons (i.e. knives, spears, swords) professionally. The training received affects how the edged-weapon is used and the area of the body targeted. There is a growing body of information available on the internet which is aimed at the training individuals in offensive knife attacks. This poster aims to raise awareness of this issue and highlight how a trained individual modifies an attack sequence depending on their victim’s posture and the protective clothing worn. A male trained in the Filipino martial arts discipline of Eskrima performed attack techniques on a static mannequin covered with a long sleeved upper body garment and leggings, a police custodian helmet and a HG1 + KR1 police body armour. In some simulated attacks the target was also dressed in a police high-visibility tactical vest on top of the body armour. High-speed video was used to capture each simulated attack and the impact location on the torso recorded using ultra-violet sensitive liquid applied to the weapon. Target posture was modified by adjusting the arm position of the mannequin. In a second series of experiments a PermaGel™ male target torso was used so that penetrating damage could be assessed. Data collected identified the change of attack due to victim’s posture and vulnerability of the neck, underarm area and groin