The engineering design of intelligent protective textiles and clothing

Abstract

Terrorism has been on the rise in the past decade and continues to disrupt everyday life in many parts of the world. Protection against such threats is therefore critical for preserving peace and security around the world. In particular, the safety of defense personnel engaged in confronting and responding to such threats must be ensured. Since textiles and clothing are pervasive and are always "on" the soldier, they can serve as an excellent infrastructure or platform for such individual protection systems. In this chapter, we present an engineering design framework for the design and development of intelligent protective textile structures and clothing. We begin with an analysis of the various types of threats against which individuals must be protected. Using this taxonomy of threats, we develop a set of performance requirements - ranging from protection against the various threats to the comfort of the active user - for such textiles and clothing. We then discuss the translation of these requirements into the realization of structures through the optimal selection of materials, manufacturing and sensing technologies. We conclude the chapter by presenting the need for a transdisciplinary approach to the field of intelligent individual protection to realize the ultimate objective of cost-effective protection anytime, anywhere for anyone. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.