Wilkes University Student in College of Science and Engineering, Casey Evans of Cicero, N.Y., 13029 Presents Senior Project

2018 May 9

Wilkes University mechanical engineering student, Casey Evans of Cicero, N.Y., 13029, presented a senior project on April 28. The event was attended by faculty, friends and family. Engineering students in the University's College of Science and Engineering are required to complete a senior project as part of the requirements to complete their degrees.

Evans's project was entitled, "Hoplon Body Armor." The goal of this project was to create a superior personal body armor system. Current vests on the market are cumbersome, heavy, and limit the performance of the wearer. Typically they are not UV or bacteria resistant and can degrade when exposed to sweat. While the current vests stop bullets, there is still great risk for injury such as bruises, organ damage, and broken bones. This design uses newer, higher performance materials to create an improved vest design. Hoplon Body Armor has created a rigid armor consisting of Spectra fiber and Carbon Nanotube epoxy resin, with a Sorbothane backing to decrease energy transfer to the wearer, thereby significantly reducing the injury to the wearer. Evans worked with faculty advisor William Greiner, faculty of practice in mechanical engineering.