U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Shock Absorbers
NCJ Number
              197014
Journal

*Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine* Volume: 26 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2002 Pages: 36,38,40,42,43
Author(s)
          Dave Douglas
Date Published

August 2002
Length
              5 pages
Annotation
              This article discusses the use, effectiveness, and standards of high-tech cloth in the development of law enforcement soft body armor.
Abstract
              The advancements in weapons have been accompanied by advancements in methods designed to defeat the new and advanced weaponry, specifically body armor. Today, bullet-resistant cloth body armor is used by police officers as an effective means to protect themselves against bullets. The basic principle behind bullet-resistant cloth body armor is basic physics. The soft body armor acts as a very strong net with the entire net working to absorb the bullet’s inertial energy. Due to the cloth’s tight weave, the soft body armor spreads the blunt trauma out over the entire area of the material reducing serious internal injuries. The body armor is heavy due to its’ composition of many layers of bullet-resistant cloth. Multiple layers of material are used with each layer to slow the bullet down progressively. The woven fibers, such as kevlar, spectra, twaron, and zylon cause the bullet to deform and spread out at the tip after impact. However, soft body armor is not bulletproof just bullet resistant. It is dependent on the construction and layering of the fabrics used in the process. The National Institute of Justice rates body armor based on meeting set performance requirements under specified standards. These standards are reevaluated annually.
      
  
          Additional Details
Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
    
  
  
Date Published: August 1, 2002
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Bullet resistant barriers
        National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
        Police equipment
        Police standards
        Riot control equipment



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Near-infrared Excitation Raman Analysis of Underlying Colorants on Redyed Fabric
                  Assessing Physical Fit Examinations of Stabbed and Torn Textiles Through a Large Dataset of Casework-like Items and Interlaboratory Studies
                  Just Science Podcast: Just Lessons Learned in Forensic Technology Transition
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov