We did a short research study on this. Results were very mixed.
Part of the driver was the observation that high-flying pheasants are
very difficult to shoot with standard shot guns becasue the shot gets
diverted by the feathers. The results were inconclusive, though some
results suggested that feathers could stop or divert bullets quite
effectively. I suspect it was all a matter of geometry, which we
couldn't reproduce properly. Promising but inconclusive.
Julian
On 13 Oct 2006, at 13:33, Zioupos, Peter wrote:
> Dear all
>
> Not too long ago I remember reading a query (I think it was
> 'BIOMECH-L' rather than 'Biomimetics') about the possible use of
> feathers as defence accessories, or perhaphs as some part of the
> armour of the south American Indians etc.
> I wonder what resulted from this debate and what the state of play
> of this topic is? Were feathers used to soften blows, or to blunt
> the cutting action of swords? What is the nature of the evidence?
> anecdotal? documented?
>
> kind regards
>
>
> Dr Peter Zioupos
> Senior Lecturer
> Dept of Materials & Medical Sciences, DCMT
> Cranfield University, Shrivenham SN6 8LA, UK
> ' tel:+44(0)1793-785932; Ê fax:+44(0)1793-783076; È mobile & text:
> +44(0)7754-772803
> : email: [log in to unmask]
> http://www.dcmt.cranfield.ac.uk/dmms/cmse/pZioupos
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