Impact Damage Caused by Sharp Objects on Fabric Materials

• Published in: Journal of Fiber Science and Technology Vol. 80; no. 8; pp. 184 - 196
• Main Authors: Hiremath, Shivashankar, Oh, Jeongwoo, Zhang, Yu, Kim, Tae-Won
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan 2024
• Subjects: Depth of penetration; Fabric damage; Knife; Protective fiber; Punching force
• ISSN: 2189-7654; 2189-7654
• DOI: 10.2115/fiberst.2024-0021

Sharp objects like knives and axes are tools designed for cutting and chopping tasks. However, their sharp edges also make them potentially dangerous and capable of causing harm to people. Herein four distinct types of knives were examined for the penetration and damages brought on by stabbing carbon and Kevlar fabrics. The analysis stated the damage patterns resulting from the sharp impacts and concentrated on factors that influence fabric penetration. Penetration force was recorded with different knives and impact velocities on the fabric material, revealing insights into the punching behavior of carbon and Kevlar fabrics. It was observed that impacts with sharp knives at varying heights caused increased punching force and energy in both fabric materials. Notably, Kevlar fabric showed minimal depth of penetration upon impact from sharp knives. Sheep foot point knife K3 exhibited the maximum penetration force, energy, and depth of penetration due to its pointed sharp angle and substantial weight. Additionally, this knife caused less surface area breaches in the fabric. In contrast, Drop point K1, Clip point K2, and Cleaver point K4 knives resulted in larger surface damage, with average damage areas of 156mm and 95mm for carbon and Kevlar fabrics, respectively. Cleaver point knife K4 experienced the least penetration in the fabric due to its blunted structure. These findings are valuable for researchers studying knife crime offenses, knife manufacturing, and fabric types for protective body armor against stab threats. They contribute to understanding the dynamics of such attacks and informing the development of effective protective measures.