Project Number: IQP JLS 0055 The Classic Suit of Armor An Interactive Qualifying Project Report submitted to the Faculty of the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science by ___________________________ Eric Van Dyke ___________________________ Caroline Mallary ___________________________ Ryan Meador ___________________________ David Sansoucy Date: April 20, 2007 Approved By: ______________________________ Professor Jeffrey L. Forgeng, Advisor 1 Abstract This IQP team researched the history of armor collecting, the armor manufacturing process, the biomechanics of wearing armor, and the physical properties of armor's protection. This knowledge was applied to the study of HAM 429, a non-homogeneous armor harness of full plate armor from the Higgins Armory Museum's collection. This harness had never before been studied in depth. The culmination of this study was a video highlighting all the noteworthy aspects of each component of the harness. 2 Acknowledgments The project team would like to thank Professor Jeffrey Forgeng for his guidance and support during the course of the project. We would also like to thank the Higgins Armory Museum for providing the team access to exclusive research resources and historical artifacts. 3 Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgments......................................................................................................................................3 Introduction..............................................................................................................................................11 History of Armor and Armor Collecting (Ryan Meador)........................................................................15 The Knight and Chivalry.....................................................................................................................15 Early Armor Collecting.......................................................................................................................17 Models Derived From Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Body Armor (David Sansoucy)...................19 Human Anatomy .................................................................................................................................19 Fatal Injuries...................................................................................................................................21 Disabling Injuries ...........................................................................................................................23 Human Physiology and Physical Abilities..........................................................................................25 Human Body Parameters................................................................................................................26 Human Senses ................................................................................................................................28 Physiological Processes..................................................................................................................29 Physical Abilities............................................................................................................................32 Modern Body Armor...........................................................................................................................38 The Beginnings of Modern Body Armor .......................................................................................39 Classification of Modern Body Armor...........................................................................................40 Modern Body Armor Manufacturers..............................................................................................42 Modern Armor Systems..................................................................................................................43 Models Derived From Modern Body Armor ......................................................................................46 Ballistic Resistance.........................................................................................................................48 4 Body Armor Weight .......................................................................................................................51 Wearability .....................................................................................................................................52 Adaptability ....................................................................................................................................56 Models Derived From Medieval Armor..............................................................................................57 Body Coverage ...............................................................................................................................57 Harness Weight...............................................................................................................................60 Integration With the Body ..............................................................................................................61 Consideration of Physiological Processes ......................................................................................67 Armorers, Guilds, Clients, and Manufacturing Techniques ....................................................................69 (Eric Van Dyke).......................................................................................................................................69 Armorers..............................................................................................................................................69 Armorer’s Communities......................................................................................................................70 Italy and Germany ..........................................................................................................................70 Low Countries ................................................................................................................................71 France .............................................................................................................................................72 Spain ...............................................................................................................................................72 England...........................................................................................................................................72 Advancement.......................................................................................................................................73 Quality Control....................................................................................................................................73 Clients..................................................................................................................................................74 Armoring Guidelines...........................................................................................................................74 Production Processes...........................................................................................................................76 Smelting..........................................................................................................................................76 5 Plate Cutting ...................................................................................................................................76 Carburizing .....................................................................................................................................77 Conclusion......................................................................................................................................77 The Physics of an Armor's Protection and a Weapon's Damage (Caroline Mallary) ..............................78 Energy, Momentum, and Shock Waves of an Arrow .........................................................................78 An Arrow's Impact .........................................................................................................................79 Energy and Momentum in Archery................................................................................................80 Fracture Modes & Starting a Wave.....................................................................................................82 Kinetic Energy Effects....................................................................................................................85 Energy Required to Pierce: Estimations..............................................................................................86 Glancing Surfaces, Ricochet, and Wave-Reflection ...........................................................................90 Ricochet..........................................................................................................................................92 Impact Shock Wave Model ............................................................................................................94 Material Properties of Armor .........................................................................................................95