From staff reports

Four researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center have been recognized for their work with firing ranges.

Dr. Phil Malone, Dr. Charles Weiss Jr. and Joe Tom, all of the Geotechnical Structures Laboratory, and Dr. Steven Larson of the Environmental Laboratory received the Federal Laboratory Consortium Award.

The men developed the problem-solving Bullet Trapping Medium and System for Live-Fire Training Ranges system. They will be honored at a ceremony May 7 at the FLC National Meeting in Charlotte, N.C.

The award comes from the men’s development of a hydrated, super-absorbent polymer mixed with granulated rubber that becomes a bullet-trapping system. The polymer is similar to products used in agriculture, lasting six to eight years in the soil with the ability to absorb up to 400 times its weight in water.

Malone, Tom and Weiss were recognized in 2005 for developing a foam-containing product designed to trap bullets and prevent ricocheting in training.