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Optimal skin simulant for ballistic testing.

R A G Hes1, J D Painter2, G J Appleby-Thomas2

  • 1Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), PO Box 24044, 2490 AA The Hague, the Netherlands.

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Summary

Researchers identified inconsistencies in skin simulant studies for forensic testing. They developed a customizable gelatine skin analogue, offering a more consistent and accessible alternative to variable natural materials like cowhide for ballistic research.

Keywords:
GelatineShooting scene reconstructionSkin simulantWound ballistics

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Science
  • Materials Science
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Human skin is a complex, anisotropic material with mechanical properties varying by age and gender.
  • Existing skin simulants in forensic ballistic testing exhibit significant inconsistencies in reported perforation energy density.
  • Current standard materials, like chrome-crusted cowhide, suffer from inherent natural variability, impacting experimental reproducibility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the limitations of current skin simulants in forensic ballistic research.
  • To investigate the development of an adjustable and customizable skin simulant.
  • To evaluate a novel gelatine-based skin analogue for improved consistency and accessibility.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted an extensive literature review on existing skin simulant studies and forensic testing experiences.
  • Investigated a 4 mm thick gelatine layer with varying concentrations (30-45 wt%) as a potential skin analogue.
  • Compared the ballistic resistance (v50%) of the gelatine analogue to published literature values and cowhide data.

Main Results:

  • Reported energy density at perforation for existing studies varied by over 100% (0.113 J/mm² to 0.239 J/mm²).
  • Chrome-crusted cowhide showed significant variability in ballistic tests (v50% from 113 m/s to 200 m/s).
  • The gelatine skin analogue demonstrated good agreement with literature values as concentration was adjusted, indicating potential for consistency.

Conclusions:

  • Existing skin simulants lack the necessary consistency for accurate forensic replication due to human skin's complexity and material variability.
  • The developed in-house gelatine skin analogue offers a promising, consistent, and accessible alternative for ballistic testing.
  • This customizable gelatine approach could establish a more reliable standard in forensic skin simulant research.