The Advanced Materials for Protective Engineering: Blast and Ballistics research group is UK- and world-leading in its research and development, contractual work and teaching in the field of protective engineering, both for ballistic impact and blast, and both conventional and non-conventional munitions. We focus on target response of both the person, PPE, vehicle armour and structures for military, police, NGOs, industry and government. We have expertise in tissue surrogates, glass, building materials, composites, and metals. We offer bespoke training courses on threats, advanced materials and PPE to several police forces across the country and, due to our reputation and credibility in this area, we are the ‘go-to’ group to provide this. The members sit on national and international working groups advising on policy to improve standards of protection. The group currently supports 16 research students and typically 15 MSc students per year, investigating all aspects of ballistics, blast and target response.
We have access to ballistic and explosive ranges, as well as high-performance computing facilities and post-impact material analysis.
Our areas of expertise
- Advanced Materials for Protections specialising in PPE – Dr Rachael Hazael;
- Ballistics and Terminal Effects – Dr Katherine Hewins;
- Protective Engineering and Blast – Dr Richard Critchley;
- Explosive Devices, C-IED, Post-Blast investigation – Mike Harris.
Other areas of expertise
- Ballistics;
- Blast;
- Blast and Ballistic Modelling;
- Protection;
- Armour.
