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Erschienen in: International Journal of Legal Medicine 6/2010

01.11.2010 | Original Article

Gunshot energy transfer profile in ballistic gelatine, determined with computed tomography using the total crack length method

verfasst von: Stephan A. Bolliger, Michael J. Thali, Michael J. Bolliger, Beat P. Kneubuehl

Erschienen in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Ausgabe 6/2010

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Abstract

By measuring the total crack lengths (TCL) along a gunshot wound channel simulated in ordnance gelatine, one can calculate the energy transferred by a projectile to the surrounding tissue along its course. Visual quantitative TCL analysis of cut slices in ordnance gelatine blocks is unreliable due to the poor visibility of cracks and the likely introduction of secondary cracks resulting from slicing. Furthermore, gelatine TCL patterns are difficult to preserve because of the deterioration of the internal structures of gelatine with age and the tendency of gelatine to decompose. By contrast, using computed tomography (CT) software for TCL analysis in gelatine, cracks on 1-cm thick slices can be easily detected, measured and preserved. In this, experiment CT TCL analyses were applied to gunshots fired into gelatine blocks by three different ammunition types (9-mm Luger full metal jacket, .44 Remington Magnum semi-jacketed hollow point and 7.62 × 51 RWS Cone-Point). The resulting TCL curves reflected the three projectiles’ capacity to transfer energy to the surrounding tissue very accurately and showed clearly the typical energy transfer differences. We believe that CT is a useful tool in evaluating gunshot wound profiles using the TCL method and is indeed superior to conventional methods applying physical slicing of the gelatine.
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Metadaten
Titel
Gunshot energy transfer profile in ballistic gelatine, determined with computed tomography using the total crack length method
verfasst von
Stephan A. Bolliger
Michael J. Thali
Michael J. Bolliger
Beat P. Kneubuehl
Publikationsdatum
01.11.2010
Verlag
Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in
International Journal of Legal Medicine / Ausgabe 6/2010
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Elektronische ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-010-0503-z

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