title: Soft soap as a tissue simulant medium for wound ballistic studies investigated by comparative firings with assault rifles Ak 4 and M16A1 into live, anesthetized animals.
abstract: For the purpose of comparing the properties of a particular soft soap with those of live muscle tissue, a comparative study was carried out, involving firings into live, anesthetized pigs and into blocks of soft soap. The weapon - ammunition combinations utilized were Ak 4 - sk ptr 10 prj - the Swedish version of 7.62 mm NATO assault rifle M16A1- M. 193 - the U.S. standard weapon, calibre 5.56 mm. The registrations were done by flash X-ray units of 105 and 150 kilovolts, mounted in an orthogonal stereo set-up with 8-11 units, making it possible to obtain 4 to 6 measurements of bullet position, yaw angle etc. during the penetration of the target in one shot. By evaluation of these firings, and by "pooling" of the data for each series it was possible to calculate retardation force on the bullet as a function of penetration depth for the soap targets, and for the live targets. The results show that no significant difference can be discerned between the soft soap and animal tissue as regards their influence on the behaviour of the bullet.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D008954:Models, Biological; D012915:Soaps; D013552:Swine; D013848:Thigh / Q000293:injuries; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D012915:Soaps