Abstract
The right clothing and equipment is of vital importance to the survival and effectiveness of military personnel. Advances in military textiles and personal equipment summarises key research on the design, manufacture and applications of military textiles. Beginning with an overview of design issues, part one explores anthropometric methods, psychological, colour and camouflage issues related to the successful design of military textiles. Materials and design issues in military helmets, footwear and hand wear are also reviewed. Part two goes on to consider applications of particular types of military clothing and equipment, including optimisation of body armour design, high performance ballistic protection using polymer nanocomposite technology as well as advances in materials and modelling of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protective clothing. Finally, Advances in military textiles and personal equipment looks specifically at designing load carriage and advanced hydration systems for military personnel.
... 1,2 It designs to conceal the soldier's outline by merging color and pattern to its surrounding environment, 3 making it more difficult to spot or hit with a military equipment. [4][5][6] Military research organizations, industry, and academia are continually engaged in military camouflage research, aiming to maximize the concealment while also considering the diverse backgrounds of operational contexts. [7][8][9][10][11] In order to enhance the undetectability of military camouflage, the designers need to minimize the difference between two important attributes between the military camouflage and its surroundings: pattern and color. ...
... 14 However, the light reflected by the object varies with the illuminant. 14 Therefore, at the current stage, it is impossible for one military camouflage to provide the same level of concealment for different terrains, seasons, illumination levels, and weather conditions, 6 since military surveillance greatly depends on the geographical environment. 15 A large number of different color spaces exist, and each was developed for a certain task. ...
... It is very likely that the future military camouflage would incorporate active camouflage, 1,40,41 since the ultimate goal for military research and technology organizations is to provide camouflage on demand, in any of the wavelengths, against the diverse environment. 6 For instance, Karpagam et al 42 developed chameleon-type printings on the cotton fabric using thermochromic colorants. Our approach can contribute to the development of future smart-camouflage by simply shifting the percentage of L*, a*, and b* of the original camouflage based on the upper bound and lower bound colors of the environment without changing the pattern of the original camouflage. ...
Enhancing an existing military camouflage is an important component during the assessment of military camouflage. The current study proposed a new and practical approach to enhancing the undetectability of a military camouflage using particle swarm optimization (PSO). Eight different locations (20 × 50 pixels) in the one swamp background were selected to be the place of a human‐shaped target. The PSO would generate newly proposed camouflage as an empirical parameter based on the lower and the upper bounds from selected four different colors in swamp background. The predictive algorithm was applied to adjust the optimum shift of %L*, %a*, and %b* from the original to the empirical parameter. Thirty participants were recruited to evaluate the original and newly proposed camouflages. Paired sample t test indicates that the newly proposed military camouflage had a significant lower camouflage similarity index value and a longer detection time. The PSO shows to be a method with good results; however, a comprehensive study using multiple backgrounds and patterns would be required to generalize the methodology to other background environments or camouflage patterns.
... In the case of woven fabrics utilized as a protective packet, the fabrics are woven densely in the form of plain weave. It was observed that the density of the yarns packed to form the weave for ballistic fabrics is the best from 0.6 up to 0.95 [2,28,43]. Below 0.6, fabrics are simply too loose to meet ballistic requirements and above 0.95 the yarns are tightly packed and can be damaged during the fabric production process. When hitting the surface of protection made of woven fabrics, projectiles cause a deformation of these fabrics that starts to spread the yarns apart. ...
... This is due to the fact that the absorption power of the yarn in woven fabrics is lost at the cross points of warps and wefts. It has been proven that instead of supporting the impact energy dissipation process, the cross points (or crossover points) rather hamper this process [2,35,36,43]. Spectra Shield™ is not a woven material, but a thin, flexible ballistic composite made from layers of unidirectional fibres held in place by flexible resins. These Spectra fibres of a single layer are arranged in a way which does not allow them to cross each other. ...
... The cone made in layers of a panel is schematically presented in Figure 15. This type of non-penetrating injury can cause severe contusions (bruises) and can cause damage to the internal structures of the body (musculature, bones, ligaments, organs and vascular system) that may even result in death [43,46]. ...
The review concerns existing contemporary protective equipment and their components serving against ballistic and non-ballistic threats of different sorts. The main focus, however, is on the personal ballistic protection (PBP) based on textile components and their role in the protective elements. Soft ballistic protections are crucial Soft ballistic protections are crucial elements of PBP, for example in military and law enforcements. Although the subject of PBP was limited in this chapter to soft ballistic protection, other elements, e.g. hard ballistic protection, stab-resistant vests, dual threat, so-called in-conjunction protective elements, modern helmets, were also mentioned in this chapter to demonstrate positioning of the soft ballistic protection and other elements in the global personal protection approach. Apart from it, the chapter contains selected information concerning high-performance polymers and fibres as well as a brief notes about their application in protective panels being basic elements of any protective element. The final remarks concern the most up-to-date approach in relation to ballistic protection, which is immersing high-performance fibres into non-Newtonian liquid substances having the ability of ordering their chemical particles and changing into a high concentration and high segregation lattice under the influence of kinetic energy impact.
... The technique uses the 2D basic flat patterns of a women's torso. It requires the introduction of chest and waist darts in different positions in each layer to create the contour of the front panel, which transfers the flat pattern to a 3D pattern [56]. Bruniaux et al. [53] used this strategy to adjust the protective zones of the female vest. ...
... The chest and waist darts are placed parallel in the front pattern. In the first layer of female body armour, the chest and waist darts are located nearest to the body centre line, as shown in [53,56]. This method has a negative consequence due to the seams created by the stitching needed to produce the contour. ...
... Enhancement is also to reduce the weight and thickness in order to improve the evaporation of sweat over a large percentage of the body area. A unique profile is associated with the protective clothing that requires specific surface area coverage, which does not allow for the numerous design variations that improves the thermal comfort of the wearer [11,56]. Comfort is psychologically and physically an important aspect. ...
This research reports the design and engineering of Kevlar-based stab resistant body armour fabrics and female vests, and evaluates their performance for protection and comfort especially for female police officers. Kevlar-wool woven fabric has been employed as a potential material for body armour vests. This current study investigates the thermal comfort properties of woven Kevlar-wool ballistic fabrics and commercial woven 100% Kevlar ballistic fabrics. The effects of fabric physical properties on laboratory-measured thermal comfort were analysed. In this context, their thermal comfort performance was compared, and fabric friction and surface roughness were evaluated. A water repellent treatment was applied to the woven Kevlar-wool fabric to ensure comparable thermal comfort results with the commercial 100% Kevlar. Since the commercial Kevlar fabric showed a water repellent result in the moisture management test, the effects of the water repellent treatment on the Kevlar-wool fabric were examined as well. This study also presents the fabric bursting strength and tear strength for comparison. Experimental results show a clear difference in thermal comfort properties: the Kevlar-wool fabric possesses better moisture management properties and mechanical properties than the Kevlar fabric.
Protection and comfort are significant aspects for body armour. A questionnaire survey was conducted in order to determine the risk assessment and comfort performance provided in current body armour used by prison officers. There were 102 prison officers surveyed in Saudi Arabia on the current body armour they may use in terms of protection and comfort. This was to understand the need for protection with body armour and to improve protective fabric and vest designs with enhanced comfort performance for future soft body armour. The survey results revealed that 12% of male and 29% of female prison officers had been attacked and protective measures against this violence could not be ignored.
Seams and stitching in body armour could affect their protective and comfort performance. Seamless technology is a method used to minimise cutting and sewing processes in making knitted garments. Seamless technology was adopted to accommodate the bust contour for female body armour designs. The 3D-knitting technology Shima Seiki SES–S.WG® and its whole-garment program were used to develop seamless female body armour vests for fit and comfort. The Kevlar-wool and 100% Kevlar fabrics were produced as weft-knit single jersey using the whole-garment knitting machine and their physical properties were measured. These properties were used to design and engineer two different styles of 3D seamless female body armour vest, the loose-vest and the bra-vest.
The knitted 100% Kevlar fabric was coated with abrasive particles to enhance stab protection performance. The stab-resistance of personal body armour standard (NIJ 0115.00) was used to determine the protection level. Single– and double-blade knives were used in this stab test. The knitted fabric mechanical properties were also investigated using bursting strength tests and stab resistance drop tests with a range of impactors. The results show that one layer of knitted Kevlar-wool, plus eight layers of knitted 100% Kevlar, and one coated layer with abrasive sand particles (a total of ten layers), passed the tests with less than 7 mm perforation at 8 J using a single-blade knife. Moreover, a combination of the knitted fabrics (Kevlar-wool, 100% Kevlar and coated Kevlar) could improve their stab-resistance. Multi-layered flexible stab-resistant vests were assembled and evaluated for comfort using a thermal manikin and sweating guarded hot-plate. The moisture management properties of the knitted fabrics were investigated. The results of this research provide a good reference for designing and engineering female body armour capable of resisting stab penetration, as well as possessing improved comfort performance.
... Customization and Scalability: The modular design of the EU-SENSE system allows customization and scalability, making it suitable for various operational scenarios, from urban centres to conflict zones. This flexibility ensures that the system can be adapted to meet specific security needs and threat profiles (Sparks, 2012;Toader, 2021). ...
... Standardization and Policy Development: Another important area for research involves the development of standardized protocols and policies for the deployment and operation of advanced security systems. This includes addressing legal, ethical, and privacy concerns related to the use of such technology (Sparks, 2012;Chakalian, 2019). ...
This article delves into the impact of the EU-SENSE system on national security strategies,particularly in addressing Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats. Itassesses how EU-SENSE, as a technological innovation, revolutionizes Chemical threat detectionand management, and its consequent influence on the evolution of national security frameworksand procedures. The study combines firsthand experience from the EU-SENSE project witha critical analysis of relevant literature, culminating in an exploration of the role played by thesystem in shaping future national security concepts and responding to contemporary securitychallenges.
... In other words, transverse waves propagate with a high energy along the filaments hit by the projectile (primary filaments) and with less intensity in the filaments that are not reached (secondary filaments). The propagation of the transverse wave, after the impact of the projectile on the filaments, forms a cone in the distal part of the material ( Fig. 2-a), explained by the tensile exerted on the primary filaments and the deformation of the secondary filaments [23,24]. ...
... The frontal faces of the NE, UV, MW, and UV + MW targets display evidence of rupture of the fabric primary yarns, deformations in the secondary yarns around the impact points and depressions with a semi-spherical crater shape at the impact point. By contrast, the back faces show protruded plastic deformations due to the ballistic, cone effect [23,24]. ...
Moisten by washing a b s t r a c t The influence of weathering on the ballistic performance of an armor made with aramid fabric was for the first time investigated, by standard exposure related to degradation conditions of: (i) ultraviolet radiation (UV); (ii) moisten by washing (MW) and (iii) UV+MW. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterized the modifications that occurred on the aramid fabric armor (AFA). Samples of both non-exposed (NE) and UV, MW and UV+MW exposed AFA, were subjected to ballistic tests against 0.380-caliber ammunition. The results of UV and UV+MW exposed samples revealed sensible macromolecular alterations, due to the scission of the polymeric chain by the processes of hydrolysis and photolysis, causing oxidation on the surface and breaking of the crystalline domains inside the aramid fiber. There was also a decrease in the crystallinity of the polyaramid macromolecular chain, being more severe after exposure to simple MW. However, no changes were observed in the thermal behavior of the AFA. The ballistic behavior was significantly affected by the weathering simulation conditions. The damage caused in the AFA by the ballistic impact was comparable within all groups exposed to degradation conditions. Practically, the same trauma, 28.2-32.1 mm and the same number, two (2), of perforated layers were observed for all exposed groups. These common ballistic results were less favorable than those of 25.7 mm and one layer, respectively, for the non-exposed AFA. The penetration traumas remained below the standard 44 mm lethal limit.
... Modern innovations, such as high-strength synthetics, have evolved from this tradition to create systems that protect against bullets, fragments and similar threats. As a result of these advances, personal protective equipment is now considered an essential element of equipment in both military and police environments [1,2]. In the face of both bullets and knives, the fundamental need for body armour remains the same; initially, it must absorb the impact and reduce the kinetic energy of the bullet, and then it disperses this energy without compromising the integrity of the armour or the safety of the wearer. ...
This paper presents the result of impact tests with two threats on panels made of Twaron® fabrics T730. Test were done with special equipment, such as firing bench, used for ballistic testing personal protective equipment. There were tested panels with 15 layers against .357 SIG bullets and 9 mm bullets. Working procedure was according with NIJ Standard 0101.06/2008 Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor. Those two panels demonstrated satisfactory ballistic protection capability against the tested projectiles and were able to stop the projectiles before allowing the panel to fully penetrate. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the panels in protecting against ballistic impact and suggest that they may be suitable for various protective applications.
... Effective protection requires appropriate sizing, fitting and regular maintenance, which may be impractical during mass exposure events or in resource-poor settings ). Moreover, PPEs may not offer complete protection against all types of CWAs and TICs, and the supply chain of these materials can be disrupted in times of crisis (Sparks, 2012). ...
This scientific paper investigates the potential threats posed by the release of Chemical WarfareAgents (CWAs) and Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs) due to possible destruction of chemicalfacilities in Ukraine during wartime. It presents an in-depth discussion of the risks, countermeasuresand decontamination strategies, focusing on the application in resource-constrained settings.This study aims to contribute to the understanding of chemical disaster management and thedevelopment of effective countermeasures.
... A rtificial camouflage is the functional mimicry of the natural camouflage that can be observed in a wide range of species [1][2][3] . Especially, since the 1800s, there were a lot of interesting studies on camouflage technology for military purposes which increases survivability and identification of an anonymous object as belonging to a specific military force 4,5 . Along with previous studies on camouflage technology and natural camouflage, artificial camouflage is becoming an important subject for recently evolving technologies such as advanced soft robotics 1,6-8 electronic skin in particular [9][10][11][12] . ...
Development of an artificial camouflage at a complete device level remains a vastly challenging task, especially under the aim of achieving more advanced and natural camouflage characteristics via high-resolution camouflage patterns. Our strategy is to integrate a thermochromic liquid crystal layer with the vertically stacked, patterned silver nanowire heaters in a multilayer structure to overcome the limitations of the conventional lateral pixelated scheme through the superposition of the heater-induced temperature profiles. At the same time, the weaknesses of thermochromic camouflage schemes are resolved in this study by utilizing the temperature-dependent resistance of the silver nanowire network as the process variable of the active control system. Combined with the active control system and sensing units, the complete device chameleon model successfully retrieves the local background color and matches its surface color instantaneously with natural transition characteristics to be a competent option for a next-generation artificial camouflage.
... Movement like knee retardation, crawl, knee spreading, stretching, and so on affects the durability of the garment -both the material and the garment joints must withstand a certain breaking, strain and friction load. In its turn, comfort ensures proper material properties and constructive solutions for clothing [4]. Although the field uniform is mainly intended for wearing in training and battle circumstances, it is also an outfit for servicing military personnel, as well as soldiers wear it during parades. ...
The aim of the research is to search the physical comfort of end-users and the ability to perform in army uniform. In order to ensure the uniformity of the uniforms, to clarify the shortcomings of the currently worn uniforms and to identify possible improvements, an end-user survey was carried out. To understand soldiers' evaluation of their workwear, the questionnaire included questions about size eligibility, model specifics, functionality and desired improvements. Research includes insight about anthropometric data of the soldiers for the review of the manufacturers sizing system and determination of the end-user's ability to select the appropriate uniform size. Fit tests have been performed at the end of the study for evaluation of the uniform functionality, comfort and soldier's ability to perform movements characteristic to the daily tasks. The information gathered in the surveys, anthropometric research and fit tests is presented in this case study and sets up the methodology of the working wear enhancement process.
... Correct fitting military uniforms and equipment are important for the survival and effectiveness of military personnel (Choi, 2016;Sparks, 2012). These uniforms must be suitable for specific occupational tasks; for example, loose fitting uniforms can get caught in machinery and cause accidents (Traumann et al., 2019), while tight fitting uniforms can severely restrict soldiers movement such as preparing to run from a prone position. ...
Aim
To determine how well decision tree models can predict tailor-assigned uniform sizes using anthropometry data from the New Zealand Defence Force Anthropometry Survey (NZDFAS). This information may inform automatic sizing systems for military personnel.
Methods
Anthropometric data from two separate samples of the New Zealand Defence Force military were used. Data on Army personnel from the NZDFAS (n = 583) were used to develop a series of shirt- and trouser-size prediction models based on decision trees. Different combinations of physical, automatic, and post-processed measurements (the latter two derived from a 3D body scan) were trialled, and the models with the highest cross-validation accuracy were retained. The accuracy of these models were then tested on an independent sample of Army recruits (n = 154).
Results
The automated measurement method (measurements derived automatically by the body scanner software) were the best predictors of shirt size (58.1% accuracy) and trouser size (61.7%), with body weight and waist girth being the strongest predictors. Clothing sizes that were incorrectly predicted by the model where generally one size above or below the tailor-predicted size.
Conclusions
Anthropometry measurements, when used with decision tree models, show promise for classifying clothing size. Methodological changes such as fitting gender-specific models, using additional anthropometry variables, and testing other data mining techniques are avenues for future work. More research is required before fully automated body scanning is a viable option for obtaining fast and accurate clothing sizes for military clothing and logistics departments.
... Woven fabrics made of high-performance textile fibres in a multi-layered arrangement are an extremely popular choice for lightweight personal body armour (Bhatnagar, 2016;Cavallaro, 2011;Chen, 2016;Crouch et al., 2017;Nilakantan, 2018;Scott, 2005;Sparks, 2012;Yang et al., 2015). Textile fibres are viscoelastic in nature ( Fujino et al., 1955;Hall, 1967) and multi-layered arrangements of elastic and viscoelastic materials may be assembled to mitigate pressure and impulse on a system ( Rahimzadeh et al., 2015). ...
Soft armour consisting of multi-layered high-performance fabrics are a popular choice for personal protection. Extensive work done in the last few decades suggests that shear thickening fluids improve the impact resistance of woven fabrics. Shear thickening fluid–impregnated fabrics have been proven as an ideal candidate for producing comfortable, high-performance soft body armour. However, the mechanism of defeating a projectile using a shear thickening fluid–impregnated multi-layered fabric is not fully understood and can be considered as a gap in the research done on the improvement of soft armour. Even though considerable progress has been achieved on dry fabrics, limited studies have been performed on shear thickening fluid–impregnated fabrics. The knowledge of simulation of multi-layered fabric armour is not well developed. The complexity in creating the geometry of the yarns, incorporating friction between yarns and initial pre-tension between yarns due to weaving patterns make the numerical modelling a complex process. In addition, the existing knowledge in this area is widely dispersed in the published literature and requires synthesis to enhance the development of shear thickening fluid–impregnated fabrics. Therefore, this article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current methods of modelling shear thickening fluid–impregnated fabrics with a critical analysis of the techniques used. The review is preceded by an overview of shear thickening behaviour and related mechanisms, followed by a discussion of innovative approaches in numerical modelling of fabrics. A novel state-of-the-art means of modelling shear thickening fluid–impregnated fabrics is proposed in conclusion of the review of current methods. A short case study is also presented using the proposed approach of modelling.
... In addition to obtaining the measurements necessary for designing the clothes, the 3D technology also allows study different types of wearing habits, and the interactions between the human body and clothing layers, considering the body movement types and postures to be carried out during daily work processes, as well as the dynamics of these movements [1,2]. The right clothing and equipment is of vital importance to the survival and effectiveness of military personnel [3]. One of initial aspects is appearance and fit of uniforms and now the information necessary to ensure it can be obtained and processed using modern technologies [4]: by non-contact anthropometric methods (3D anthropometrical scanner Vitus Smart XXL® is used in the study), data processing automation systems, pattern making CAD/CAM systems, etc. ...
... However, neither the Latvian Republic Ministry of Defense nor other uniformed services regulatory technical documents contain any definite references to the requirements of these "standards" and availability, procedure of obtaining anthropometric data standardization [3]. The right clothing and equipment is vital importance to the survival and effectiveness of military personnel [4]. One of initial aspects is appearance and fit of uniforms [5] and now the information necessary to ensure it can be obtained and processed using non-contact technologies. ...
Planning manufacture of uniforms decisions must be taken as to how many and in what size a particular model series should be manufactured, how they should be labeled and to what body-dimensions garment sizes should correspond. The purpose of anthropometric parametrization is to introduce garment size classification for mass production clothing, so as to representatively depict wearers’ body figure diversity. It is in the interests of manufacturers (design time and costs, logistics etc.) and buyers/procurement service alike to confine themselves with a minimum garment sizes and to use a possibly less complicated garment size classification. The aim of this research is to gather different impact factors for anthropometric parametrization for Uniforms of Armed Forces. Research is formed from anthropometric data and end user survey exploring data set of 150 soldiers. Anthropometrics are performed by non-contact anthropometric methods (3D anthropometrical scanner Vitus Smart XXL® is used in the study), data processing automation systems, pattern making CAD/CAM systems, etc. National Armed Forces (NAF) technical specification provides for manufacture of a wide range of garment sizes (by height indifference interval of 6 cm). Manufacturers labeling system and charts of finished products are subjected to comparative analysis and evaluation of corresponding standard recommendations is included. The study indicates the need to optimize the currently used anthropometry method in the Latvian Army, anthropometric data registration and application, thus improving the performance of military personnel and the procurement process and the use of resources, thus promoting resource planning and environmental protection. Also improvements are needed in uniform labeling and instructing of the military personnel on selection of uniform and equipment components. Proper anthropometric parametrization and labeling of Uniforms for Armed Forces would minimize expenses of Uniforms as well as the negative waste impact to the environment.
... Many different types of CBRN protective clothing have been developed to deal with different CBRN and other situations. All the above mentioned attacks are carried out with an aim to intentionally maim or kill [1]. However, particularly in daily life technologies, perhaps the most important and prevalent hazard to people is the effects of electromagnetic waves and which are emitted by the increasing use of mobile communication systems and electronic devices. ...
The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate conductive core wires reinforced cotton yarns for smart and protective textile applications. Different sensors will be attached to the developed textile structures and will employed in rehabilitation to give the patient an online feedback. The stainless steel (SS), copper (Cu) and silver treated copper (Cu/Ag) conductive wires at different diameters (40, 50 and 60 micron) were employed as the core of the Ne20 cotton yarns. A number of different yarns were produced with and without core wires. A conventional ring spinning system with an attachment was used to produce core yarns. The interaction between the yarn quality and the core wires were tested and analyzed. 20 copses of yarns were produced by using different yarn process combinations. The yarn properties were tested in terms of yarn count, yarn twist, yarn hairiness, breaking strength and elongation. As a result, the properties of cotton yarns were affected by the wire reinforcement. The tested parameters have changed in varied extents. The types of the conductive wires also had different effect on the core yarn properties.
Ballistic helmets are individual pieces of armor equipment designed to protect a soldier's head from projectiles and fragments. Although very common, these helmets are responsible for several casualties due to their significant back face deformation and low ballistic resistance to projectiles. Therefore, to enhance helmet performance, studies have focused on the development of new materials and new ballistic protection solutions. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a new ballistic solution using thermoplastic-based matrices. The first matrix was based on high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The second matrix was based on HDPE modified with exfoliated montmorillonite (MMT). The main manufacturing processes of a thermoplastic-based ballistic helmet are presented, along with its ballistic performance, according to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard 0106.01 and an investigation of its failure mechanisms via a non-destructive technique. All the helmets resulted in level III-A ballistic protection. The postimpact helmets were scanned to evaluate the back face deformation dimensions, which revealed that the global cone deformation was deeper in the HDPE than in the HDPE/MMT helmet. The failure analysis revealed an overall larger deformation area in the HDPE and HDPE/MMT helmet delamination zones in the regions with a large radius of curvature than in the zones with the lowest radius, which is in accordance with previous simulations reported in the literature.
This study aims to address the challenges associated with conventional metallic bone fixation plates in biomechanical applications, such as stainless steel and titanium alloys, including stress shielding, allergic reactions, corrosion resistance, and interference with medical imaging. The use of materials with a low elastic modulus is regarded as an effective approach to overcome these problems. In this study, the impact of different types of chopped carbon fiber-reinforced polyether ether ketone (CCF/PEEK) functionally graded material (FGM) bone plates on stress shielding under static and instantaneous dynamic loading was explored using finite element analysis (FEA). The FGM bone plate models were established using ABAQUS and the user's subroutine USDFLD and VUSDFLD, and each model was established with an equivalent overall elastic modulus and distinctive distributions. The results revealed that all FGM bone plates exhibited lower stress shielding effects compared to metal bone plates. Particularly, the FGM plate with an elastic modulus gradually increased from the centre to both sides and provided maximum stress stimulation and the most uniform stress distribution within the fractured area. These findings offer crucial insights for designing implantable medical devices that possess enhanced mechanical adaptability.
Cellulose acetate (CA), a very promising derivative of cellulose, has come into the focus of research due to its highly desired good film-forming ability for food packaging applications. Frequently, this derivative is used in combination with other compounds (polymers, nanoparticles) in order to obtain active materials. Here, we report the preparation of thin films made of cellulose acetate loaded with chitosan (CS) using the solution blow spinning (SBS) method. Films are prepared by SBS processing of the polymers mixture solution, considering the following variables: (i) the concentration of cellulose acetate and chitosan in the solution and (ii) the solvent system consisting of acetic or formic acid. The prepared materials are characterized in terms of physical properties, roughness (optical profilometer), porosity, wettability (contact angle measurements), chemical structure (Fourier transform infrared spectrometry), and electrokinetic properties (zeta potential). SBS enables the preparation of CA/CS films with high water vapor permeability, high porosity, and also higher water contact angle compared with pure CA films. The electrokinetic properties of composites are influenced by the inclusion of chitosan, which causes a shift of the isoelectric point (IEP) towards higher pH values, but the magnitude of the shift is not in correlation with chitosan concentration. Adsorption kinetic studies using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein reveal that chitosan modified cellulose acetate films manifest low affinity towards proteins that suggests prevention of biofilm formation on its surface.
Nowadays metal matrix composite materials are preferable in automotive and aerospace industries due to their mechanical properties and essentially attractive strength to weight ratios. However, their availability in use is limited because of their manufacturing method difficulty and process extravagancy. The aim of this research was to fabricate metal matrix hybrid composite through a novel approach thermo-mechanical method called friction stir consolidation (FSC) process. XRD result witnessed the presence of SiC, ZrO 2 , and AZ61 alloy phases. Different compositions of AZ61, SiC, and ZrO 2 powder were taken into consideration and the progression of the FSC process were examined through properties of compressive strength, hardness, density, and porosity. For instance, the compressive yield strength of composition 85%Vol. of AZ61, 10%Vol. of ZrO 2 , and 5%Vol. of SiC accounts 164.2 MPa with an acceptable 2.2451 g/cm ³ and 0.593% density and porosity respectively. However, when the strength to weight ratio was taken into consideration, 95%Vol. of AZ61, 2.5%Vol. of ZrO 2 , and 2.5%Vol. of SiC composition attained highest strength to weight ratio value. Additionally, the compressive yield strength value increased directly proportional with the ZrO 2 volumetric composition. Likewise, the fractured surface of sample acquired highest strength to weight ratio was examined through SEM Fractography analysis.
This paper studies the ballistic impact performance of 3D woven composites (3DWCs) with hexagonal binding patterns. Para-aramid/polyurethane (PU) 3DWCs with three kinds of fiber volume fraction (Vf) were prepared by compression resin transfer molding (CRTM). The effect of Vf on the ballistic impact behavior of the 3DWCs was analyzed by characterizing the ballistic limit velocity (V50), the specific energy absorption (SEA), the energy absorption per thickness (Eh), the damage morphology and the damage area. 1.1 g fragment-simulating projectiles (FSPs) were used in the V50 tests. Based on the results, when the Vf increases from 63.4% to 76.2%, the V50, the SEA and the Eh increase by 3.5%, 18.5% and 28.8%, respectively. There are significant differences in damage morphology and damage area between partial penetration (PP) cases and complete penetration (CP) cases. In the PP cases, the back-face resin damage areas of the sample III composites were significantly increased to 213.4% of the sample I counterparts. The findings provide valuable information for the design of ballistic protection 3DWCs.
A typical ballistic protection helmet for ground military troops has an inside laminate polymer composite reinforced with 19 layers of the aramid, which are neither recyclable or biodegradable and are relatively expensive. The hybridization of synthetic aramid with a natural lignocellulosic fiber (NLF) can provide a lower cost and desirable sustainability to the helmet. In the present work, the curaua fiber, one of the strongest NLFs, is, for the first time, considered in non-woven mat layers to partially replace the aramid woven fabric layers. To investigate the possible advantage of this replacement, the tensile and impact properties of aramid/curaua hybrid laminated composites intended for ballistic helmets, in which up to four layers of curaua were substituted for the aramid, were evaluated. Tensile strength, toughness, and elastic modulus decreased with the replacement of
the aramid while the deformation of rupture was improved for the replacement of nine aramid layers by two layers of curaua. Preliminary impact tests corroborate the decreasing tendency found in the tensile properties with the replacement of the aramid by curaua. Novel proposed Reduction Maps showed that, except for the replacement of four aramid layers by one layer of curaua, the decrease percentage of any tensile property value was lower than the corresponding volume percentage of replaced aramid, which revealed advantageous hybridization for the replacement of nine or more aramid layers.
Kunststoffe sind aus unserem heutigen Alltag nicht mehr wegzudenken. Aufgrund ihrer im Vergleich zu Metallen und Keramiken deutlich geringeren Dichte, werden sie in vielen Bereichen, wie Verpackungsindustrie, Medizin oder im Automobilbereich eingesetzt. Auch im Bauwesen finden Kunststoffe immer mehr Einsatzmöglichkeiten. So werden bereits Dämmplatten aus expandiertem Polystyrol hergestellt. Diese werden für eine bessere Stabilität mit einem zusätzlichen Befestigungsdübel aus Polypropylen an der Hauswand befestigt. Dadurch, dass jedoch zwei verschiedenen Materialien mit unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften verwendet werden, kommt es auf Grund unterschiedlicher Wärmeleitfähigkeiten zu Wärmebrücken, die sich optisch anhand von Schimmel- und Algenbildung an der Hauswand zeigen. Motivation dieser Arbeit war es die Wärmeleitfähigkeiten der beiden Materialien durch den Einsatz eines Füllstoffes anzupassen, jedoch die mechanische Festigkeit des Dübels nicht negativ zu beeinflussen. Auf der Suche nach einem passenden Füllstoff zur Dichtereduzierung, kristallisierten sich Mikrohohlglaskugeln (MHGK) als geeigneten Kandidaten heraus. MHGK, als anorganischer Füllstoff, weisen als einziger Füllstoff eine geringere Dichte als Polypropylen auf. Zudem besitzen sie ebenfalls eine geringe Wärmeleitfähigkeit und Dielektrizitätskonstante. Durch den Einsatz von 50 Vol.-% MHGK (33 Gew.-%) konnte so eine Reduzierung der Dichte um 24 %, der Wärmeleitfähigkeit um 20 % und der Dielektrizitätskonstante um 17 % erreicht werden. Der Nachteil an dem Einsatz von MHGK als Füllstoff war jedoch, dass sie als sphärischer Füllstoff die mechanischen Eigenschaften der Matrix herabsetzen. Der Zielansatz war deshalb, durch eine angepasste Funktionalisierung beider Komponenten eine stabile chemische Bindung zwischen Füllstoff und Matrix zu erhalten, um so den mechanischen Verlusten entgegenzuwirken. Es sollten dabei MHGK-Gehalte bis zu 50 Vol.-% realisiert werden. Durch eine Kombination aus dem Einsatz eines Haftvermittlers, Maleinsäureanhydrid-gepfropftes-Polypropylen (PP-g-MAH), und der Silanisierung der MHGK mit einem Amino-Silan (AMEO), konnte zwischen beiden Komponenten, je nach Verhältnis der funktionellen Gruppen, stabile Amid- und Imid-Bindungen erzeugt werden. Diese Anbindung gewährleistete das Erreichen der mechanischen Kennwerte Zug- und Biegefestigkeit von ungefülltem PP sowie eine Verbesserung der Kriechfestigkeit. Im Vergleich zur unmodifizierten Matrix konnten zudem auch die Kerbschlagzähigkeit verbessert werden.
This volume contains select papers presented during the Functional Textiles and Clothing Conference 2020 held at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. The volume covers recent developments, challenges and opportunities in the field of functional and protective clothing; functional printing and finishing; sustainable production and supply chain; and testing and characterisation. This volume will be of interest to researchers, professional engineers, entrepreneurs, and market stakeholders interested in functional textiles and clothing.
This research aims to use nanotechnology to develop ecofriendly and durable multifunctional products, capable of providing protection of textiles from harmful UV radiations, bacterial infection and mosquitoes. Natural essential oils have various useful properties; however, they are difficult to apply directly onto a textile substrate due to their volatile nature. In this work, peppermint essential oil along with a combination of suitable surfactants has been used to develop stable and optimized oil in water nanoemulsion. The nanoemulsion has been prepared using high-speed homogenization technique and has been applied onto cellulosic fabric. The particle size of the nanoemulsion has been tested with the help of Malvern Mastersizer 2000 according to which a stable nanoemulsion has been obtained. The finishing has been done by application of nanoemulsion through layer by layer technique, which is known to improve the adhesion of finishing on fabric. The use of nanoemulsion has led to very good multifunctional property of fabric through LBL application technique, in terms of antimicrobial property (99 %), mosquito repellency (100 %) as well as moderate UV protection property (UPF 7.28). The fabric has been found to possess its multifunctional properties till 20 washes.
Anti-riot body protectors are very essential personal protective equipment mostly used by paramilitary and police forces during riots. These body protectors suppose to protect them against various possible threats such as stone pelting, stabbing, petrol bomb, etc., during riots. To understand the suitability of present body protector used by soldiers, a study is carried out. The study is divided into three parts. In the first part of study, a survey was carried out using well-designed questionnaire amongst the 95 soldiers of Rapid Action Forces (RAF). RAF is one of the main users of body protector during riots. It was revealed from the survey that the soldiers needed some improvement in the present body protector. They have also given various inputs to improve upon the present body protector. Some of the inputs given by them to include better stab and impact resistance capability, better durability of hook and loop fasteners. Besides, they have also complained about poor design and hygiene-related issues related to body protector. In the second part of the study, 25 body protectors were procured from the paramilitary forces, police forces and manufacturers to analyze various properties including stab and impact resistant. The study revealed that most of the body protectors failed to qualify the requirement given in VPAM KDIW 2004, Edition 2011, standard used for analyzing stab and impact resistance properties of body protector. In the third part of the study, three composite materials were developed which qualified the requirement of stab resistant as per VPAM KDIW 2004, Edition 2011standard.
Cigarette smoking has various direct and indirect concerns regarding the health of active and passive smokers. Cigarette smoke consists of many complex aerosols, including metals like arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), and so on. Cigarette filters which are designed to separate toxic aerosols from the smoke to enter into human lungs are less looked after once the smoking is over, and often they are thrown precariously near water bodies. These filters buds when exposed to environment can release absorbed chemicals in soil and water, eventually resulting in biomagnification of toxic chemicals in plant or animal. Electrospun polymer nanofibers, like polyacrylonitrile (PAN), can be a useful alternative to filter materials in commercial cigarette. This paper suggests modification of traditional cigarette filters with PAN nanofibers which can be carbonized to prepare conductive substrate. Electrospun nanofibers when rolled like regular cigarette filters exhibited similar pressure drop with near identical molar flux of inhaled gas. However, the weight gain of regular cigarette filter after smoking was mere 25 %, whereas electrospun PAN nanofiber filter gained 115 % in weight after smoking. The same filter membrane, after smoking, was carbonized to make carbon nanofibers (CNF), which showed enhanced capacitance behavior in cyclic voltammetry study in KOH medium.
This volume contains select papers presented during the Functional Textiles and Clothing Conference 2018. The book covers the recent scientific developments, cutting edge technologies, innovations, trends, challenges and opportunities in the field of functional and smart textiles and clothing. The contents of this volume will be of interest to researchers, professional engineers, entrepreneurs, and market stakeholders interested in functional textiles and clothing.
Summative content analysis was used to define methods and heuristics from each case study. The review process was in two parts: (1) A literature review to identify conventional research methods and (2) a summative content analysis of published case studies, based on the identified methods and heuristics to suggest an order and priority of where and when were used. Over 200 research and design methods and design heuristics were identified. From the review of the 20 case studies 42 were identified as being applied. The majority of methods and heuristics were applied in phase two, market choice. There appeared a disparity between the limited numbers of methods frequently used, under 10 within the 20 case studies, when hundreds were available.
• Implications for Rehabilitation
• The communication highlights a number of issues that have implication for those involved in assistive technology new product development:
• •The study defined over 200 well-established research and design methods and design heuristics that are available for use by those who specify and design assistive technology products, which provide a comprehensive reference list for practitioners in the field;
• •The review within the study suggests only a limited number of research and design methods are regularly used by industrial design focused assistive technology new product developers; and,
• •Debate is required within the practitioners working in this field to reflect on how a wider range of potentially more effective methods and heuristics may be incorporated into daily working practice.
Protective clothing for riot policemen is a special clothing with a purpose of protecting body when putting down a riot. It is a protective clothing for Korean policemen and women in conducting their official duties. It should bee able to safely protect a person wearing it from external threats and symbolically represent the authority of police in management of riots or demonstrations. Functions required for protective clothing for policemen are safety, activity, body fitness in terms of functionality and comfort, convenience, design in terms of wearability. This study investigated and analyzed status of wear and degree of satisfaction on 6 functions of protective clothing of riot policemen, which are to be used as basic data for future development of protective clothing for riot policewomen. The study result shows that men have higher satisfaction in all functions of protective clothing, which indicates a need for development of protective clothing for riot policewomen. As for men`s satisfaction rate, it was in order of comfort
This commentary reflects on a series of published research articles, 1996-2013, that form a PhD thesis by publication. The articles offer evidence of research into best practice relating to Assistive Technology (AT) product design as a specialist section of Industrial Design (ID). The aim of the research has been to provide AT product developers with a methodology that ordered and prioritised the application of proven research methods, design methods and design heuristics; as well as, to highlight the fundamental concepts that underpin the methodology.
This commentary provides a review of the methods applied and discussion of their efficacy within each case study. The series of articles, evaluated at a meta-analysis level in the second part of the commentary, address the following research questions: 1) What is the optimum order and priority of conventional design methods, heuristics and research methods when applied within a new product development process for assistive technology products?, 2) Through a meta-analysis of case studies, are there key aspects that underpin an optimum AT-ID process?
From the review, 61 research methods, design methods and heuristics were defined. An order of methods and heuristics identified some methods that were used throughout all phases of a NPD process that included literature review, benchmarking, mixed methods and participatory research. The methods and heuristics used in all phases highlighted a user-centred approach and the close collaboration with end users and stakeholders. There was also a focus of methods and heuristics around phase 2 of the 5 design process phases defined by Martin and Hannington. The critical review also highlighted key underpinning aspects that helped optimise an Industrial Design approach to ID-AT NPD. These were 1) creating a format for dialogue within the constraints of perception and 2) previous experience and the application of ethically sound protocols for the whole process. Lastly the change of terminology and attitudes of those working the Assistive Technology industry highlighted the need for more research into social acceptance of all aspects of Assistive Technology and the perception of disability from those living with impairment and by UK society as a whole.
Thermal comfort of a clothing system is one of the important goals of the clothing manufacturers that require an engineering approach. In this research work a thermo-regulating textile packages were developed and a wearing comfort of protective clothing consisting from those packages was improved. The organic microcapsules of phase change materials that have different binding to the fibre mechanisms were padded on the fabric surface by pad-dry-cure method. The thermal properties and stabilities were measured using differential scanning calorimetry. The results demonstrate that 20% higher values of thermal resistance were obtained after incorporation of fabric, coated by PCMs into lining layer of multilayer textile package. By using such multilayer fabric systems with incorporated phase change material for military protective garments, the wearer’s comfort can be enhanced substantially and the occurrence of heat stress can be prevented. © 2015, Kauno Technologijos Universitetas. All rights reserved.
Protection and comfort are significant aspects for body armour. This study surveyed 102 prison officers in Saudi Arabia about their opinion on the current body armour they may use in terms of protection and comfort. This is to understand the need for protection with body armour and improve protective fabric designs with enhanced comfort performance for future soft body armour. From the information gathered via a questionnaire survey, the risk assessment inside the prison and the percentage of prison officers being attacked were determined. The results revealed that 12% of male and 29% of female prison offices were attacked and protective measures against this violence level cannot be ignored.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.