Evaluating simulant materials for understanding cranial backspatter from a ballistic projectile.
In cranial wounds resulting from a gunshot, the study of backspatter patterns can provide information about the actual incidents by linking material to surrounding objects. This study investigates the physics of backspatter from a high-speed projectile impact and evaluates a range of simulant materials using impact tests. Next, we evaluate a mesh-free method called smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) to model the splashing mechanism during backspatter. The study has shown that a projectile impact causes fragmentation at the impact site, while transferring momentum to fragmented particles. The particles travel along the path of least resistance, leading to partial material movement in the reverse direction of the projectile motion causing backspatter. Medium-density fiberboard is a better simulant for a human skull than polycarbonate, and lorica leather is a better simulant for a human skin than natural rubber. SPH is an effective numerical method for modeling the high-speed impact fracture and fragmentations.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Centre for Advanced Composite Materials, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand.
Raj
R
Das
Alistair
A
Collins
Anurag
A
Verma
Justin
J
Fernandez
Michael
M
Taylor
D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001801:Blood Stains; D044709:Forensic Ballistics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008954:Models, Biological; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012408:Rubber; D012887:Skull Fractures; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot
D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011140:Polyurethanes; C005506:polycarbonate; D012408:Rubber
backspatter; cranial injury; forensic biomechanics; forensic science; hypervelocity impact; mesh-free method; numerical modeling; skull simulant; smoothed particle hydrodynamics