Numerical Methods for the Analysis of Behind Armor Ballistic Trauma

The asymmetric character of current military conflicts causes that soldiers are often exposed to projectile impacts. Body armor (helmets, vests, etc.) protects them from the negative effects of highly dynamic loads by absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy of a projectile. However, severe local and distant injuries can occur in the human body, even in case of a non-perforating impact. A large amount of energy and momentum is converted into deep back face deformation (BFD) of the armor and dynamic acceleration of the body walls. In case of high-velocity impacts a trauma may be caused also by the stress waves generated and propagated through the tissues. Injury of the human body as a result of non-perforating projectile impact into the armor is defined as Behind Armor Blunt Trauma (BABT) [1].