This is an excellent moment to study body armor materials and systems because new test standards are being created or revised, and new inventive products are being produced. The current evolution and maturity of new fibers, has enabled an entirely new form of system to evolve into a stackable system of Hard Armor Plates. The current state of knowledge of relevant energy-absorbing mechanisms in fibers, fabrics, polymeric laminates, and ceramics is quickly reviewed. Following that, the current state of ballistic fiber development is examined, analyzed, and future projections are offered. The benefit of employing cladding materials to improve the Hard Armor Plates’ robustness and multi-strike performance is investigated. Finally, with the push for lighter, and hence smaller, soft armor systems for military personnel, the challenges for armor designers are discussed. This review and research were done in the Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Mazandaran.
