Doppler radar velocity measurements for wound ballistics experiments

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Ballistics

Background:

• Bullet velocity is a critical parameter in wound ballistics.
• Traditional electronic methods (photocells) measure velocity by timing impulses between barriers.
• Doppler radar, used for artillery, presents a potential alternative for wound ballistics velocity measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of Doppler radar for measuring bullet velocity in wound ballistics experiments.
• To compare the accuracy of Doppler radar with traditional photocell methods.
• To assess the suitability of Doppler radar for different bullet velocity ranges.

Main Methods:

• Experiments were conducted using anesthetized pigs shot at a range of 9-10 meters.
• Bullet velocities were measured simultaneously using both Doppler radar and photocell systems.
• Data from both measurement techniques were compared for accuracy and reliability.

Main Results:

• Doppler radar and photocells showed excellent agreement for low and medium velocity bullets (average deviation <1%).
• Entry velocity measurements for high velocity bullets were comparable between methods.
• Exit velocity measurements for high velocity bullets were problematic for both Doppler radar and photocells due to signal interference from tissue fragments and bullet deflection.

Conclusions:

• Doppler radar is a highly accurate and user-friendly alternative to photocells for measuring low and medium velocity bullet impacts in wound ballistics.
• Further improvements to the Doppler radar system are needed to accurately measure exit velocities of high velocity bullets.
• The study highlights the potential of Doppler radar to enhance wound ballistics research, particularly for non-high-velocity scenarios.