Abstract
The thorax is a common target for gunshot injuries due to the vital organs it contains and the target area it presents. Tissue simulants such as gelatin are often used to represent the thorax in ballistic testing as they provide a practical means for quantitative assessment. There are calls to improve models by making them more anatomically relevant by the introduction of bone structures and organs. Therefore, a synthetic thorax model was developed for use in ballistic testing using MK262 MOD-1 (5.56x45mm) and 175gr GD-OTS (7.62x51mm) ammunition. This was carried out in several logical stages and included optimising and proposing a ballistic gelatin calibration standard and validating the use of Roebuck 1518 synthetic chamois as a skin simulant when backed by 10% gelatin. This was followed by developing a synthetic rib and a synthetic lung model, before incorporating the aforementioned components together to form a thorax model which was assessed for its suitability to be used in ballistic testing. The suitability of the thorax model was assessed by comparing energy deposition across the components in the model to the individual component models. The results indicated that the model is a more anatomically biofidelic model and is suitable for use in ballistic testing with the ammunition detailed. Furthermore, the thesis discusses the relevance of the findings, the clinical relevance of the thorax model and critically evaluates the models and processes used.