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MythBuster Developing Light-Weight Vehicle Armor
gearystwatcher writes "MythBusters' Jamie Hyneman has been developing blast-resistant, light-weight armor for use on US military vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan based on his work with show co-host Adam Savage. 'We had a lot of experience in the show dealing with explosives, obviously in ways and situations that are outside the norm. This is very revealing, because when you see something outside the norm you get to see what the boundaries of the phenomenon are,' Hyneman tells The Reg during an interview for the new MythBusters' season."
And they're so often wrong.
Forgive me, but I'm going to take the word of the Royal Goddamned Navy on the grevious effect of massive oak splinters, and not a few stuntmen on cable TV.
It's just sad when average is seen as something special.
That may well be true for some segment of their viewers. Just the same, a lot of people like watching the show because its applied engineering. They get to build and do things which many of us simply don't have time, budget, or both to tinker. Basically, the show provides an outlet in which many of us vicariously enjoy.
At the end of the day, blowing shit up is fun. Verifying, if even a simpleton approach, classic science experiments is fun. And even though they constantly deviate from the scientific method and constantly completely screw things up, they show can still be fun - even if they are wrong. Its really more about the experience than the result. And if you can get a satisfactory result, its all the better.
Of course, none of that means they are smart, engineers, or scientists.
Having actually met Tori in real life, I can assure you that they are all pretty smart. They do mathematical models behind the scenes to back up what they are saying, and yes, they do dumb it down when they are filming, because most of their audience couldn't give a crap about models and math and everything that science actually is, their audience wants to see myths broken or proven and maybe see something blow up along the way.
Moral of the story: don't judge people based on their TV personalities.
There is no such thing as "bulletproof glass". Usually, what you have is a combination of two things:
* a polymer and glass layered sheet
* of a specific thickness and ply count
For instance, most 'bulletproof glass' is just rated for pistol calibers (as I believe bank teller glass tends to be). Rifle calibers will punch right through. I think you'll need something close to 6" or so to withstand a shot or two from a 30 caliber, high velocity rifle (eg. think mostly anything from WWII, 7.62 NATO, 7.62R, etc.). A .50 Browning is likely to put a nice 'little' pock in such a plate. I wouldn't stand on the other side voluntarily.
And, with all frangible materials, with repeated impacts they will start to be less effective at fulfilling their role.
I believe there's a new polymer/glass/transparent aluminum glass out there, too, but they're all variations on the same theme.
~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
Agreed, although funny enough, neither of them are "trained" Engineers.
Jamie has a degree in Russian linguistics and Adam is an acting college dropout. Although they have more lay person building skills than I could ever hope to have. Screw you high school guidance counselor that refused to let me take Welding since I was "college bound"
The rest of the cast:
Grant has a BSEE.
Kari is a sculpting artist.
Tory just started out as a stage manager running errands and just worked his way up the ranks.
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*There are a few old guys from my company that started out from the bottom. Starting at the loading bay and some how ending up as master engineer despite having no degree what so ever. It's really rare any more, but it does still happen. Not everyone has the chance or opportunity to go to college to be an engineer.
As 'pistol calibers', and the resultant energy, tend to vary wildly - that's pretty much a meaningless statement. But most teller glass tends to be rated for rifles anyway.
Nope - as little as two inches or so will stop those kinds of rifles. (UL level 8.) You're a decade or two behind state-of-the-art.