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How Does Body Armor Work?
Home » Law Enforcement » Body Armor » How Does Body Armor Work?Bullets do damage to the human body in two ways: first of all, they penetrate the body and can severely injure of kill by damaging vital organs or blood vessels. Secondly, the amount of force exerted on the individual by the bullet(s) can cause blunt force trauma. Body Armor is designed to prevent the bullet from penetrating the protective vest. It is also designed to dissipate the energy of the bullet, so that even if the bullet does not penetrate the person's body, the force of the bullet does not cause severe and life-threatening injuries. Most concealed armor - the kind used by the police and other first responders--is called soft body armor and is made of Kevlar or similar fibrous components. In soft body armor, multiple layers of the bullet-resistant are layered between plastic film. The fibrous material is woven like a web and basically functions as a net (like in a soccer game) by "catching" the bullet and disseminating the energy from the point of impact to all over the vest.
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