Prerequisite for a valid forensic medical assessment of gunshot wound is knowledge of the mechanisms of its formation under different conditions, in particular — under condition of the bullet’s impact through the obstacle.

OBJECTIVE

To find the most accurate prognostic criterion of wound severity arising from high-energy local exposure to the tissues and organs of the human’s chest and abdomen through such a special obstacle as body armour.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Shooting of protective body compositions and experimental animals with ammunition and spherical firing mechanisms with varying impact load, video recording of the occurring high-speed processes, computational diagnosis were carried out.

RESULTS

The characteristics of the forming local rear deformation section without penetration of protective composition of ceramic armour panel have been established. It has been shown that this formation has a round shape, high speed of movement, limited height and large impact impulse. Simulation of impact action with spherical firing mechanisms with different mass showed the possibility of formation of similar damage at different values of kinetic, specific energy and impulse of local impact, as well as damage at similar energy and impulse values in experimental animals. The dependence of the after-penetration local contusion trauma severity is most accurately described by means of such a new criterion as the given specific impulse.

CONCLUSION

It is advisable to use the new «specific impulse» criterion as the main prognostic criterion of after-penetration local contusion trauma severity.