05-17-2011, 11:42 PM
Quote:There's an infinite number of anatomical orientations that could be used, all of which would give different results. And I don't know how you could test for variations in body heat, since ordnance gelatin is supposed to be kept refrigerated until use.
stanc,
That is one of the biggest problems I see with ordnance gelatin. While it may represent a standardized medium that projectiles can be compared in, what relevance does it have to wound characteristics in living human beings? A cold gelatin medium might be closer to what brain tissue is like on a corpse in the morgue, but not the breathing chest of a human at 98.6 F. Basic physics tells us that a fluid dynamic environment at higher temperature will provide less resistance to a projectile, just like the wind. We therefore can derive very little from cold ballistic gelatin in a large container if we are trying to extrapolate the results to a dissimilar target.
If we are to move closer to establishing predictive wounding characteristics based on shooting something other than the actual intended targets, I would propose simulating as many variables as possible, though what I would recommend is admittedly cost-prohibitive...for individuals and small companies. The necessarily-complex target I described would also facilitate multiple shots in many locations, since there would be compartmentalization, with each organ compartment requiring less tissue-simulating medium per volume. It would also make a great training aid for end-of-course shooting tests in many competitive, evaluative, and instructional settings.
Rather than simulating an unreasonable number of anatomical positions, I would suggest a simple fractional model from at least 3 frontal angles in the transverse plane, with varying elevations on the coronal plane, as well as side penetrations on the sagittal plane at varying elevations, to include arm penetrations with and without through-and-through wounds to a simulated humerus. I would also like to see a representation of the pelvis in the ballistic mannequin. A self-healing polymer skin surface could enclose the torso, with replaceable inner components for repeated testing and cost-effectiveness. That is what I would like to see.
If standard gelatin were to be used as an interim solution, I would lean towards heating it at least, and arranging a ladder of wet wood rungs in front of it to simulate ribs, with a .50" rubber mat in front of that to simulate the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis.
LRRPF52