Wood Body Armor Plates?

[kje54]

Super strong densified wood at a fraction of the cost of modern plate armor.
Of course it's applications are almost unlimited plus some are working to make it transparent.

A five-layer, plywoodlike sandwich of densified wood stopped simulated bullets fired into the material—a result Hu and his colleagues suggest could lead to low-cost armor. The material does not protect quite as well as a Kevlar sheet of the same thickness—but it only costs about 5 percent as much, he notes.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/...t-s-super-wood?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us

 

[DeepSouth]

That is interesting, however I’m much more interested in what a “simulated” bullet is for some reason .

 

[kje54]

That is interesting, however I’m much more interested in what a “simulated” bullet is for some reason .

By the way, this is still in early testing which means computer sims prior to the ultimate field testing. That means it is not currently available for practical use. Maybe I should link a definition of how the scientific method works, I just assumed most everyone already knew that.

 

[CDW4ME]

"Better than nothing" body armor.

Until wood bees attack.
He is wearing wood armor, release the termites.

 

[Elkins45]

That is interesting, however I’m much more interested in what a “simulated” bullet is for some reason .

A captive bolt gun or something similar would be my guess.

 

[Mk-211]

‘People think I’m stupid’: the story of the man who shot himself 192 times

The wild new documentary 2nd Chance explores the story of Richard Davis, the eccentric and reckless creator of the modern-day bulletproof vest

www.theguardian.com

When I see them wear it and then shoot themselves to test it....

I won't worry about a "simulated" computer bullet.

 

[CapnMac]

I’m much more interested in what a “simulated” bullet is for some reason .

Dunno. Perhaps a dry ice pellet fired pneumatically (less lab mess).

 

[kje54]

Dunno. Perhaps a dry ice pellet fired pneumatically (less lab mess).

Or simply computer generated.

 

[dh1633pm]

Since body armor is outlawed in some states, I would guess that wood could become illegal. Its a great idea. Wonder how it would differ in weight?

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Since body armor is outlawed in some states, I would guess that wood could become illegal. Its a great idea. Wonder how it would differ in weight?

Wood would be no more illegal in said states as kevlar, ceramic, and steel, which aren't illegal in those states.

 

[jeepnik]

By the way, this is still in early testing which means computer sims prior to the ultimate field testing. That means it is not currently available for practical use. Maybe I should link a definition of how the scientific method works, I just assumed most everyone already knew that.

When the inventors put it on and let someone shoot them I’ll be more interested.

Older guys know what I am talking about.

 

[kje54]

When the inventors put it on and let someone shoot them I’ll be more interested.

Older guys know what I am talking about.

And when they use it to replace the plastic bumper on your car you're going to test it by running into bridge abutment at a high rate of speed.......?
And I'm old enough to know what you are referring to.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

nvm: .... I blame scotch!

 

[AlexanderA]

The fact that it costs only 5% of what conventional armor costs, is the telling point for me. Would you trust your life to a cheap knockoff?

 

[JohnKSa]

Densified wood is interesting stuff and is very light and strong.

HOWEVER, it would not replace kevlar for body armor since it is not flexible like kevlar is. That means comparing it to kevlar is stupid/pointless because it doesn't provide the same functionality as kevlar.

It could be analyzed as a replacement for hard body armor, but then it would need to be compared to hard body armor technology (ceramics, composites, steel), not to kevlar. I have not seen numbers, but from the little I know about densified wood, I doubt it is anywhere near as bullet-resistant as modern hard body armor technology. Maybe someday...

 

[Riomouse911]

Hmmm, neat to see people trying new ideas.

But I’ll pass on this one.

YMMV.

Stay safe.

 

[Leon tP]

I already have my wood armor.

 

[lemaymiami]

That idea might turn into something... My own experiences with body armor got underway more than 50 years ago now (Yeah I'm an old guy...). My first vest, purchased myself - long before my agency issued body armor... was a Second Chance. From that day forward I wore body armor religiously (and down here in south Florida that takes some dedication....The day I retired out of police work after 22 years, I hung my issued vest up after cleaning it and never wore it again (thank heavens...). Yes, the basic panels need to be flexible with a shock plate insert at center of mass.

That's where a shock plate of a lighter material might be useful - but still body armor is difficult to put up with (serious understatement). It's hot, smelly, and nothing to look forward to at all. Some of our officers could not stand to wear one at all... I still have that old vest since my agency did not want it back - just a memory now. I did actually know officers that were killed while wearing a vest - in every case an incoming round found a place not covered by that vest... Still that added layer of protection is well worth wearing at all times if you're in harm's way. I also know of several "officer saves" attributed to the vest they were wearing - when involved in a killing car crash as well...

 

[hso]

The material does not protect quite as well as a Kevlar sheet of the same thickness—but it only costs about 5 percent as much, he notes.

And that statement kills any interest in personal wearable armored. Cheaper won't trump better in this use.

OTOH, as protection in fixed applications where you can add thickness and weight where price per square meter matters it could be useful in homes, banks, stores, etc.

 

[drobs]

I was chatting with my Deputy neighbor about his body armor, he wear rifle plates. His reasoning is most folks out here in the sticks are more likely to take shot at him with a rifle than a pistol.

Making a broad statement, very few LE are wearing Kevlar these days. The majority are wearing ceramic rifle plates.
I wore both in Iraq. A Kevlar vest with either steel or ceramic rifle plates. It was heavy.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

The fact that it costs only 5% of what conventional armor costs, is the telling point for me. Would you trust your life to a cheap knockoff?

How I wish costs were directly correlated with quality/capability/reliability/etc. Life would be so much easier.

 

[Justin]

The science and chemistry Youtuber Nile Red did a video where he replicated the experiment in this paper and shot at it with real guns, a .22 and 9mm if memory serves.

The results are interesting, but the wood is nowhere near the strength of a kevlar vest.

Full video for those who are interested:

Making bulletproof wood

Head to https://brilliant.org/NileRed for a 30-day free trial + the first 200 people will get 20% off their annual subscription!Back in 2020, I read a paper ...

www.youtube.com

 

[Jim Watson]

Simulated bullet.
It wasn’t a bullet, but I once heard a speech saying “We proved our theory.” It took me a while to realize he meant “Our computer simulation agreed with our computer projection.” No physical tests had been performed.

 

[Show Me]

Let me try it boss

 

[Littlef]

I equate strapping boards to my chest as body armor to being the same as running around in the park with a cardboard sword. Hope that works out Don Quixote.