Laser sintered body armour - establishing guidelines for dual-layered stab protection

Additive Manufacturing technologies are increasingly being utilised in a range of custom and high performance applications. Initial research has demonstrated the successful use of Laser Sintering for achieving stab protection to UK body armour standards. However, further development is required to establish a comprehensive set of stab resistant design characteristics which could be used for the generation of a bespoke AM body armour garment. This body of work is a precursor to such developments, instead establishing the foundations as to whether dual layered Laser Sintered planar structures can be used to minimise body armour thickness requirements, whilst maintaining successful stab protection to internationally recognised standards.