Glove : Baseball :: Armor : Projectile.
The armor system according to the present invention exploits synergistics multi-layering to provide different properties as a function of depth within a sandwich panel. Various embodiments of the invention include a combination of composite sandwich topology concepts with hard, strong materials to provides structures that (1) efficiently support static and fatigue loads,(2) mitigate the blast pressure transmitted to a system that they protect,(3) provides a
very effective resistance to projectile penetration, and (4) minimizes shock (stress wave) propagation within the multi-layered armor sandwich structure. By using small pieces of highly constrained ceramic, the concept has significant multi-hit potential.
Kinetic Energy Penetrator.
The first portion is formed of a material effective to produce a relatively large hole in an explosive reactive armor faceplate. The second portion is preferably formed from material selected to best perforate basal armor.
Attempts have been made to address these problems by using monolithic steel plates
made of Rolled Homogeneous Armor (RHA). Attempts have also been made to use
aluminum - titanium alloys as armor materials.
However, as discussed above, modern armor should provide a mechanism to catch small,
slow moving fragments that might penetrates the system or that might be created by shock
wave reflections (spalling). Attempts to solve such problems have included the addition
of woven (ballistic) fabrics to the back of metal armor plates.
A composite armor with a higher mass and volumetric efficiency is desirable. Attempts have
been made to add ceramics, such as alumina, silicon carbide, and bornon carbide, to the
front of metal or fiber-reinforced armor plates.
(1) Hard Faced Plastic Armor
(2) Composite Armor Structure
However, these attempts suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages, which are not admitted to have been known in the art by inclusion in this section. (a) Ceramic paltes are often unable to sustain performance and defeat multiple impacts by high velocity projectiles.
(b) Large area of ceramic tiles tend to shatter completely when hit by a projectile, often rendering the composite armors unable to defeat a second projectile impact close to a proceeding impact. (c) Sympathetic shattering of adjacent ceramic sections can also occur, further increasing the danger of penetration by subsequent impacts.
A composite armor known as Chobham Armor developed in the 1960s at the British tank research center in Surrey, England. Some more sophisticated systems have attempted to add passive damping layers to mitigate shock propagation and to reduce ceramic fracture.
Confining the ceramic or containing it under compressive stress also can be highly beneficial. Attempts have been made to contain the ceramic using polymer, glass or carbon fiber fabrics. Constraining the movement and ejection of the ceramic as it is fractured or pulverized during an impact event is also desirable.
Further attempts have been made to defeat shaped changes and projectiles, to slow down the motion of armor cover plates, to attenuate the transmitted shock waves and associated reflected and viscoelastic phenomena, to minimize energy transfer and the propagation of stress waves that prematurely fracture or destroy successive armor layers upon ballisitic
impact, and to provide a lightweight, structurally rigid air gap material that isolates and dissipates shock (stress wave propagation) and allows for the integral bonding of multiple armor layers.
(1) Composite Floor Armor for Military Tanks
(2) Impact Absorbing Armor
Information relevant to attempts to provide lightweight sandwich panel structures
consisting of low density cores and solid face sheets, which maintain a robust
connection between the cellular core and the face sheets during deformation can be
found in the following references.
Finite element analysis of the dynamic response of clamped sandwich beams subject
to shock loading.
A first embodiment of the present invention relates to a synergistically-layered armor system
comprising a plurality of layers, wherein at least one layer comprises a plurality of ceramic
elements confined within a cellular structure comprising a plurality of voids, wherein the
ceramic elements and individually isolated with the plurality of voids.
A second embodiment of the synergistically-layered armor system comprising a
plurality of synergistic layers, wherein at least one modular layer comprises a
lattice-based truss core structure.
A third embodiment of the synergistically-layered armor system comprising
a plurality of synergistic modular layers, wherein at least one modular
layer comprises : a structure panel having a front plate and a back palte;
a corrugating element positioned between and adjoining the front plate and
back plate, wherein the corrugating element defines a plurality of voids;
and at least one fill material filling the plurality of voids.
A fourth embodiment is about the method for producing an armor layer, the method
comprising : providing a first plurality of triangular prism elements, each having an apex and
a base.
An example of a multi-layered composite armor based upon cellular materials concepts.
It has a total thickness of 9 to 10 inches.
(1) The central layer can be composed of a solid plate of an aluminum alloy.
It is preferably to empoly a grade of aluminum that has a high ballistic mass efficiency,
is easy to metallurgically form and join, simple to manufacture, and has a good resistance
to corrision and fatigue loading. Aluminum is the preferred metal alloy, however, it is
envisioned that any metal alloy with favorable ballistic characteristics such as : titanium...
The central layer (1) has a front face (2) and a back face (3). The front face (2)
is connected to a first cellular structure (4). The back face (3) is connected to a
second cellular structure.
The first cellular structure (4) and second cellular structure (5) are preferably
multi-layered pyramidal lattice structures.
(6) Cellular Sandwich Panel. It preferably comprises an aluminum alloy, it also can be fabricated from fiber reinforced polymer based composites.
(7) Top Panel and (8) Bottom Panel which are separated by a corrugating element (9).
(10) A core has plurality of voids (11).
Alternating regions of metal and ceramic can provide a spatially varying hardness
that can be used to heavily deform a large projectile, causing it to dissipate
kinetic energy and to begin to break-up into smaller, spatially separated fragments.
In the left, the impact of projectile or fragment on the composite armor structure occurs near a base of the prism structure. In the case of impact on a base (27) of a triangular ceramic element, the projectile or fragment is defeated by crushing of the projectile by the armor.
In the right, the impact of projectile occurs near an apex of the triangular shaped ceramic elements. In the case of impact on or near an apex (28) of a triangular ceramic element, the projectile or fragment is defeated by tiling or turning of the projectile by armor.
armor.
(middle) a component ceramic prism with normal edges, (bottom) a component ceramic prism with sloped edges.
An array of single ceramic prisms.
(b) staggered arrangement.
(b) staggered arrangement.
The armor design concept envisioned here showing various layers of the structure; damping layer, hard ceramic layer (with and without containment), fiber reinforced polymer composite sandwich structure, shock damping materail within the opne region
of the sandwich structure and a woven-fiber ballistic spall layer.
The armor concept with a fiber reinforced polymer composite lattice based truss sandwich
structure.
Source : Synergistically-Layered Armor System and Methods of Producing Layer Thereof.
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