Ballistic Backing Materials

Clay backing material records measurable back face signature data.

The selection of test backing is significant because in flexible armor, the body tissue of a wearer plays an integral part in absorbing the high energy impact of ballistic and stab events. However the human torso has a very complex mechanical behavior. Away from the rib cage and spine, the soft tissue behavior is soft and compliant. In the tissue over the sternum bone region, the compliance of the torso is significantly lower. This complexity requires very elaborate bio-morphic backing material systems for accurate ballistic and stab armor testing. A number of materials have been used to simulate human tissue in addition to Roma. In all cases, these materials are placed behind the armor during test impacts and are designed to simulate various aspects of human tissue impact behavior.

One of the critical requirements in soft ballistic testing is measurement of “back side signature” (i.e. energy delivered to tissue by a non-penetrating projectile) in a deformable backing material placed behind the targeted vest. The majority of military and law enforcement standards have settled on an oil/clay mixture for the backing material, known as Roma Plastilena. Although harder and less deformable than human tissue, Roma represents a “worst case” backing material when plastic deformations in the oil/clay are low (less than 20mm). (Armor placed over a harder surface is more easily penetrated.) The oil/clay mixture of “Roma” is roughly twice the density of human tissue and therefore does not match its specific gravity, however “Roma” is a plastic material that will not recover its shape elastically, which is important for accurately measuring potential trauma through back side signature.

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