Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for characterizing an impact in a fabric. The system may include a sensing element woven in the fabric wherein a parameter of the sensing element depends on a strain in the sensing element; a transducer coupled to the sensing element wherein the transducer is configured to generate an output based on the parameter of the sensing element; and a controller coupled to the transducer, the controller configured to receive the output of the transducer, to determine a strain in the sensing element based, at least in part, on a change in the output of the transducer, and to characterize the impact in the fabric based on the strain in the sensing element.

Abstract: A momentum trap ballistic armor comprises an accelerating layer, a plug layer adjacent to the accelerating layer, and an energy absorbing layer. The plug layer includes an opening and at least one plug maintained within the opening. When a projectile impacts the accelerating layer, the plug is accelerated to the velocity of the projectile before the projectile perforates the plug, forming a projectile-plug combination. The energy absorbing layer is used to capture the projectile-plug combination. The accelerating layer is typically ceramic, the plug layer is typically metal, and the energy absorbing layer is typically ballistic cloth material.

Abstract: A momentum trap ballistic armor system comprises an accelerating layer and a plug layer adjacent to the a accelerating layer. The plug layer includes an opening and at least one plug maintained within the opening. When a projectile impacts the accelerating layer, the plug is accelerated to the velocity of the projectile before the projectile perforates the plug, forming a projectile-plug combination. Typically, the accelerating layer and plug layer are joined with an energy absorbing layer, which is used to capture a projectile-plug combination. The accelerating layer is typically ceramic, the plug layer is typically metal, and the energy absorbing layer is typically ballistic cloth material.