Citation

Zecheru T, Dena A, Cîrmaci M, Său C, Zaharia C, Lăzăroaie C. J. Forensic Sci. 2018; 63(3): 758-765.

Affiliation

Scientific Research Center for CBRN Defense and Ecology, 225 Olteniţei Sos., 041309, Bucharest, Romania.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13679

PMID

29084352

Abstract

Ballistic gelatin as simulant of the human body and organs is a support in forensics. After having obtained very good results for a new gelatin-based composite in terms of physicochemical and rheological properties, this study focused on this material's mechanical behavior during stabbing and shooting versus bovine and porcine organs and standard ballistic gelatin. The hybrid gelatin has a predominantly elastic behavior at 23°C, whereas the elastic modulus becomes practically constant in the 10-0.1 Hz frequency range. In terms of stabbing behavior, the small variations obtained between porcine organs and surrogate are below 5%, the perforation indicating a good similarity. From the ballistic test results using 10 × 28T rubber balls, it has been seen that the hybrid ballistic gelatin conducts to more reliable and reproducible values of perforation/penetration versus standard gelatin, making from it a real candidate for use in forensic tests.

© 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

ballistics; elastic behavior; forensic science; gelatin-based composite; nonlethal ammunition; organs simulant