Re: Wright's Proposals

[Benjamin Austin <jedi@ecn.purdue.edu>]

On Fri, 18 Dec 1998, Jevan Furmanski wrote:

> There is a difference in cushy materials and closed-cell high density
> polymers.  I offered you to fight in a pillow suit, not an impact armor
> suit.  When the cells are closed in a matrix of non-permiable material
> (this is a foam)  the air compresses and this absorbs the energy.  The
> same as nike air shoes.  Clothing just looses most of it's volume apon
> impact and provides nothing more than skin.
> 

First, foam is most definitly not non-permiable.  In fact, it is most 
easily cut.  When you strike a pillow with a blunt object, the same thing 
happens (granted, not quite to the level as an impact suit) and the blow 
is lessened extensively.  Can't your chain mail be viewed as a closed 
matrix of non-permiable material?


> The chain is pulled taut over the skin, and blows to a point are
> distributed over an area as the shock is transmitted through the
> interlocked rings.  This is all basic statics stuff and all engineering
> minded folks should understand it.  It really is just common sense.  
> 

Absolutely not.  The chain is not a rigid body.  There is nothing to keep 
the end of a baseball bat from connecting the chain into you or the 
padding.  Perhaps it's not common sense now, is it?


> > You're on!  There is a reason that why the people trainning police officers 
> > to use their battons use what is known as the "red man suit" (which is 
> > eccentially big foam pads secured around the body) instead of big old 
> > plates of metal.
> > 
> Again, modern inventions...  that is like the french charging machine gun
> fire.  

The concepts still apply regardless of what time we're talking.


> When someone removes armor, I would ask them if they intend to be naked or
> not.  If not, then they get the clothing bonus.
> 

Is it actually separate as Greg says it is for the plate mail?  If it 
isn't (and, Greg, I'm not sure why you don't know this since Wright cites 
you as his source for what the armor is), then we should firm this up in 
order to be consistant.

B.J. Austin
jedi@ecn.purdue.edu


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