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Liquid armor? A study of projectile resistance in shear thickening materials
Body armor is used by police and military personnel for protection against gunshots and projectiles. This body armor needs to be both flexible, so that they can move easily and hard, in order to stop on impact and protect the wearer. A shear thickening material allows for both us these traits
Keywords: Shear thickening, non Newtonian, Fluids, projectile, MRI, cornstarch
Body armor is used by police and military personnel for protection against gunshots and projectiles. This body armor needs to be both flexible, so that they can move easily and hard, in order to stop on impact and protect the wearer
A shear thickening fluid allows for both of these traits. When under low shear stress a shear thickening liquid has a low viscosity and thus flows easily, which allows for flexibility. Under a high shear, such as an impact from a projectile, the viscosity increases so much that the fluid jams and behaves as a solid.
Unfortunately today the parameters leading to shear thickening are not completely understood. A better understanding of the properties of shear thickening will allow engineering of better materials. These materials could increase the comfort and even save lives of defense personnel.
Experiments will be conducted using an MRI in order to observe what happens to the shear thickening fluid on impact.
Body armor is used by police and military personnel for protection against gunshots and projectiles. This body armor needs to be both flexible, so that they can move easily and hard, in order to stop on impact and protect the wearer A shear thickening fluid allows for both of these traits. When under low shear stress a shear thickening liquid has a low viscosity and thus flows easily, which allows for flexibility. Under a high shear, such as an impact from a projectile, the viscosity increases so much that the fluid jams and behaves as a solid. Unfortunately today the parameters leading to shear thickening are not completely understood. A better understanding of the properties of shear thickening will allow engineering of better materials. These materials could increase the comfort and even save lives of defense personnel. Experiments will be conducted using an MRI in order to observe what happens to the shear thickening fluid on impact.
- Perform projectile experiments into a shear thickening fluid
- Analyze and model the impact of a projectile
- Design improvements for improved protection material
- Perform projectile experiments into a shear thickening fluid - Analyze and model the impact of a projectile - Design improvements for improved protection material
For questions and additional information, please contact Christopher McLaren, mclarenc@ethz.ch
For questions and additional information, please contact Christopher McLaren, mclarenc@ethz.ch