In the context of further impact tests with various striking weapons against the skull, it turned out that the manufacturer had incorrectly calibrated the force measuring plate, which was used in our earlier experiments.

When the tests were carried out again under the same conditions, the measurement results were significantly higher (Tables 1 and 2).

Table 1 Measurement results, strikes with the side of 0.5-l beer bottles on pork rind—aluminium
Full size table
Table 2 Measurement results, strikes with the side of 0.33-l Coke bottles on pork rind—aluminium
Full size table

While the forensic-biomechanical basic conditions of hits with a glass bottle against the human skull remained the same, higher maximum values of the force transmitted were found. With a maximum force transfer of more than 8 kN for both blasts with a 0.5-l beer bottle as well as with a 0.33-l Coke bottle, fractures of the cranium are possible.

Our conclusions therefore need to be adjusted based on the likelihood of potential life-threatening injuries.

Conclusion

The possible maximum impact force which can be transferred onto a human skull by blows made with an empty 0.5-l glass beer bottle is slightly lower (8.3 kN), but overall comparable with an empty 0.33-l Coke bottle (8.7 kN).

If the glass bottle comes into contact with the face (particularly the nasal bone, cheekbones), bone injuries are likely, and if the skull is hit, fractures are to be classified as possible. Thus, life-threatening blunt trauma injuries are possible in a healthy adult.