Numerical Analysis of Rifle Bullet Impact Armor Covered Human Torso

Abstract

To study the behind armor ballistic trauma (BABT), a finite element model of human torso has been developed based on the CT data of a Chinese adult man. The model consists of organs system (heart, lungs, liver and stomach), skeleton system (sternum, costicartilage, ribs and spine), mediastinum and skin. The experiments of rifle bullet penetrating ceramic/ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) laminate composite body armor combined with soft body armor were conducted to verify the accuracy of the numerical model. The skeletal structure was assumed to be linear-elastic while all internal organs were modeled as viscoelastic. The impact responses of armor covered human torso under the penetration of rifle bullet at different impact point were conducted numerically. The pressure time histories of heart, lung, liver, stomach were obtained. Furthermore, the contours of von Mises stress in the skin, thoracic cage and internal organs were also analyzed. The numeric model provides an effective method to study internal organ injuries and design better vests under non-penetrating ballistic impact.