A theoretical model of non-deforming bullets penetrating ballistic gelatin

To investigate the interaction mechanisms between bullets and living tissues, ballistic gelatin is used as the tissue simulant and a theoretical ballistic model is established. The drag force, the lift force and the overturning moment on the bullet are obtained based on the assumption that the pressure on the wetted area is consisted of a dynamic term and a static term. To verify the ballistic model, a non-deforming 7.62 × 39 mm rifle bullet is fired in the gelatin block. Spatial positions and orientations of the bullet are obtained through the reflective mirror system. The calculated displacements of the center of mass agree well with the experimental data. Both the yaw angles and the elevation angles of the bullet coincide well with the corresponding experimental data in the first 250 mm of penetration. As shape parameters of the bullet are integrated in the forces and in the moment in the model, the model is expected to be used in the motion predictions of different bullets.