NCJ Number
242520
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 57 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2012 Pages: 1556-1561
Date Published
November 2012
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Although not very common, forensic investigation related to projectile ricochet on water can be required when undesirable collateral damage occurs.
Abstract
Although not very common, forensic investigation related to projectile ricochet on water can be required when undesirable collateral damage occurs. Predicting the ricochet behavior of a projectile is challenging owing to numerous parameters involved: impact velocity, incident angle, projectile stability, angular velocity, etc. Ricochet characteristics of different projectiles (K50 BMG, 0.5-cal Ball M2, 0.5-cal AP-T C44, 7.62-mm Ball C21, and 5.56-mm Ball C77) were studied in a pool. The results are presented to assess projectile velocity after ricochet, ricochet angle, and projectile azimuth angle based on impact velocity or incident angle for each projectile type. The azimuth ranges show the highest variability at low postricochet velocity. The critical ricochet angles were ranging from 15 to 30 degrees . The average ricochet angles for all projectiles were pretty close for all projectiles at 2.5 and 10 degrees incident angles for the range of velocities studied. Abstract published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.