05-25-2007, 07:22 AM
Before we start getting too technical on this subject, it might be as well if we set down some basics, so we all are aware of what is under discussion.
Let me begin with a disclaimer! I am not a physicist or an engineer, so if my terminology or understanding is not technically correct, please forgive me.
Also, I am trying to write for all, rather than a technically minded audience.
In considering armour effectiveness there are some basic forces at work, and we might as well remind ourselves of them:-
Firstly, Force=mass x acceleration (F=ma ), that is, the force exerted by a weapon will be governed by its mass, and the acceleration which it gets from the attacker. This may be direct , e.g. a hand blow, or by storing energy, as in an arrow.
A standing man is limited to exerting around 120 Newtons ( a newton is kg/metre squared ).
Force may be quasi-static, as in a direct blow (e.g a thrust or cut), or from a source of kinetic energy (e.g. missile such as arrow or javelin or sling bullet ), or a combination of the two.
Exertion of force imparts Kinetic energy = ½ mass x velocity squared (K=1/2 mv2 – the “squaredâ€
Let me begin with a disclaimer! I am not a physicist or an engineer, so if my terminology or understanding is not technically correct, please forgive me.
Also, I am trying to write for all, rather than a technically minded audience.
In considering armour effectiveness there are some basic forces at work, and we might as well remind ourselves of them:-
Firstly, Force=mass x acceleration (F=ma ), that is, the force exerted by a weapon will be governed by its mass, and the acceleration which it gets from the attacker. This may be direct , e.g. a hand blow, or by storing energy, as in an arrow.
A standing man is limited to exerting around 120 Newtons ( a newton is kg/metre squared ).
Force may be quasi-static, as in a direct blow (e.g a thrust or cut), or from a source of kinetic energy (e.g. missile such as arrow or javelin or sling bullet ), or a combination of the two.
Exertion of force imparts Kinetic energy = ½ mass x velocity squared (K=1/2 mv2 – the “squaredâ€
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
