Reshaping Projectiles to Improve Armor Protection

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an armor system includes one or more composite armor panels including one or more layers of fibers including a first fiber weave, such that a first directionality of one or more fibers of the first fiber weave is configurable to reshape a projectile based on one or more angles of the first directionality of the one or more fibers of the first fiber weave. The armor system also includes one or more composite armor panels comprising one or more layers of fibers including a second fiber weave, such that a second directionality of one or more fibers of the second fiber weave is configurable to reshape the projectile to a new shape based on one or more angles of the second directionality of the one or more fibers of the second fiber weave.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]This invention relates generally to the field of armor systems and more specifically to reshaping projectiles by light weight armor systems to protect against shape charges (e.g., an explosively formed penetrator (EFP)), other explosive devices, hypervelocity impacts and / or ballistic devices.BACKGROUND[0002]Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and shape charges such as Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFPs) have accounted for a large number of combat casualties. Lethality of EFPs comes in part from the shape and arrangement of a concave copper cone, called the liner, which transforms into a forceful jet of fluidic metal which easily perforates steel armor. Despite focused efforts on armor development, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and other armored vehicles still cannot defend against these threats. More recently, armor solutions such as the FRAG Kit 5 have been used to protect military vehicles such as Humvees. However, these armor solutions typ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003]According to one embodiment, an armor system includes one or more composite armor panels including one or more layers of fibers including a first fiber weave, such that a first directionality of one or more fibers of the first fiber weave is configurable to reshape a projectile based on one or more angles of the first directionality of the one or more fibers of the first fiber weave. The armor system also includes one or more composite armor panels comprising one or more layers of fibers including a second fiber weave, such that a second directionality of one or more fibers of the second fiber weave is configurable to reshape the projectile to a new shape based on one or more angles of the second directionality of the one or more fibers of the second fiber weave.

[0004]According to some embodiments, the second directionality of the one or more fibers of the second fiber weave is configurable to reshape the projectile to a new shape based on one or more angles of the second directionality of the one or more fibers of the second fiber weave.

[0005]According to some embodiments, the resistance to the projectile is increased as a result of the projectile while breaking a portion of the one or more fibers of the second weave while the projectile is penetrating and reshaping.

[0007]Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one or more technical advantages. A technical advantage of one embodiment may include the capability to add a tumble to the path of a projectile device. A technical advantage of one embodiment may include the capability to change the trajectory of a projectile device. A technical advantage of one embodiment may include the capability to slow down particles of a projectile. A technical advantage of one embodiment may include the capability to withstand and resist multiple impacts from particles of a projectile device. A technical advantage of one embodiment may also include the capability to increase impact time. A technical advantage of one embodiment may also include the capability to lower the force exerted on one or more armor layers of an armor system. A technical advantage of one embodiment may also include the capability to decrease the overall impact of a projectile. A technical advantage of one embodiment may also include the capability to decrease the shape change ability of a projectile and force the projectile to reshape itself based on the directionality of fibers used in armor system. A technical advantage of one embodiment may also include the capability to increase the surface area of the front of a projectile.

[0008]Further technical advantages of particular embodiments of the present disclosure may include an armor system that is lighter weight than conventional armor. A lightweight armor system of the present disclosure may be capable of protecting against a similar threat as a heavier conventional armor system. Yet another technical advantage of one embodiment may be a relatively low cost solution to provide protection against a variety of projectiles and high velocity impacts. In particular, armor systems using composite armor panels having layers of composite fiber with different fiber directionality to reshape the projectile in accordance with the present disclosure may protect against a shape charge such as an EFP, other explosive devices such as IED's, other projectile threats, bullets, ballistic threats and / or forms of hypervelocity impact.

Problems solved by technology

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and shape charges such as Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFPs) have accounted for a large number of combat casualties.

Despite focused efforts on armor development, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and other armored vehicles still cannot defend against these threats.

However, these armor solutions typically weigh around 200 lb / ft2.

Since nearly all army vehicles are thousands of pounds overweight, even without any additional armor protection solution, most of these approaches have proved impractical.

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