Abstract: Methods to determine the durability and wear-resistance of soft armor. Observations on field tested articles of soft body armor indicate that the materials are subject to a combination of flexing, tensile, compressive and abrasive forces. The forces and stresses to which soft armor articles are subjected to can be duplicated in a controlled, isolated, measurable, appropriate and intuitive manner, to correlate ballistic performance with durability and wear characteristics. The tests closely approximate the forces and stresses experienced in the end use of ballistic resistant composite articles.

Abstract: Methods to determine the durability and wear-resistance of soft armor. Observations on field tested articles of soft body armor indicate that the materials are subject to a combination of flexing, tensile, compressive and abrasive forces. The forces and stresses to which soft armor articles are subjected to can be duplicated in a controlled, isolated, measurable, appropriate and intuitive manner, to correlate ballistic performance with durability and wear characteristics. The tests closely approximate the forces and stresses experienced in the end use of ballistic resistant composite articles.

Abstract: A system to protect structures in a marine environment from the effects of an impact force. The system includes a plurality of floatable devices (panels) and a plurality of fibrous networks. The fibrous networks include high tenacity fibers which extend at least in a generally horizontal direction and are in communication with the plurality of floatable panels. The plurality of fibrous networks are disposed in a generally parallel arrangement with respect to each other and are vertically spaced apart by a distance not exceeding about 12 inches (30.5 cm). The system is designed to be spaced from the structure to be protected.

Abstract: A system to protect structures in a marine environment from the effects of an impact force. The system includes a plurality of floatable devices (panels) and a plurality of fibrous networks. The fibrous networks include high tenacity fibers which extend at least in a generally horizontal direction and are in communication with the plurality of floatable panels. The plurality of fibrous networks are disposed in a generally parallel arrangement with respect to each other and are vertically spaced apart by a distance not exceeding about 12 inches (30.5 cm). The system is designed to be spaced from the structure to be protected.

Abstract: The invention relates to ice control formulations (deicing and anti-icing compositions) that have a tailorable BOD. The deicing compositions of the present invention comprise a) at least one first freezing point depressant (FPD) that is non-toxic, biodegradable and has a certain rate of degradation; b) at least one second FPD that is non-toxic, biodegradable, wherein the second FPD has a rate of degradation that is different from the rate of degradation of the first FPD; and c) at least one surfactant, wherein the surfactant is non-ionic, non-toxic and biodegradable, and wherein the first FPD of (a) and the second FPD of (b) are present in a ratio that provides a composition that has a predetermined biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). The invention further provides anti-icing compositions which further comprise a thickener.