Chain mail

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

> What do you think permiable means?  

Well, I think it means exactly what is in The American Hertiage 
Dictionary under "permeate" (page 977 in the edition copywrited in 
1969).  

> It has nothing to do with cutting.  It
> has to do with transport phenomena.  The pillow is easily compressible
> because it doesn't trap air very well,

trpas it better than a bunch of interlocked chain

> the foam is completely closed.  The
> only reason that pillows would lessen the blow it due to the delay from
> the air resistance of feathers that restricts the flow from the interior
> of the pillow.  As any SI minded engineer knows, pressure is force per
> unit area.  

Bravo!  I was totally un-aware that the definition of pressure changed 
when I swtiched units.  I'll have to correct my porfessors.


> The point of almost all armor is to A) distribute the force
> over a larger area from a strike and B)  Withstand penetration.  Chain
> does both of these.  

Yes, but a pillow will distrubite it better than chain or any other 
metal.  It, however, lacks the ability to withstand penetation from a 
sharp object (as I stated in the last email under the permeablilty 
discussion).

> I have tried to explain why from an experience point
> of view 

Has some hauled off and whacked you with a baseball bat while wearing 
chain mail and then have you done it with out or with "pillow mail"?  If 
not (and you haven't lead me to believe that you have), then there is no 
experience to speak from.

> and an engineering one

Please show me the math and physical principles that you have used.  So 
far, it has simply been a lot of conjecture (to be fair, as well from me).

> You should just try it.  Kevin has some
> armor and you can whack yourself however you like.  If history,

You have not stated one historical case.

> science,
> and empirical data aren't enough, then perhaps experience will be.
> 

Perhaps someday I will be so inclined but, since it is not my proposal 
that was asked for authentication, I really don't have the motivation to 
spare the time.


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


"This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session
 as when the baby gets hold of a hammer."
						- Will Rogers