Composite armor with a cellular structure

Abstract

A composite armor 10 is provided with a cellular structure 12 having a plurality of composite inserts 14 arranged in openings 20 provided in the cellular structure 12. A pair of laminate sheets are arranged on oppositely facing sides of the cellular structure 12 and covering the inserts 14. The laminate sheets 26 and 28 are bonded to the structure 12 and the inserts 14 by an adhesive. The cellular structure 12 includes a plurality of fibers extending continuously throughout the cellular structure 12.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH[0001]This invention was made with Government support under Agreement No. W911NF-04-2-0032 awarded by ARL. The Government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to armor used for preventing the penetration of structures by projectiles. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved armor including a fiber grid having composite tiles retained in the grid that together provide overall support to the structure being protected while also improving the armor performance of each individual composite tile.[0004]2. Background of the Invention[0005]Armor systems have been known to include thick metal as a skin of a structure being protected. For example, military vehicles have, for several years, included a thick metal plate on their exterior in order to reduce the likelihood of projectile penetration. Such thick metal armor systems whi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite armor that will prevent the penetration of projectiles in a structure while also providing structural support to the same structure.

[0013]More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a composite armor having a one-piece integrally formed composite cellular structure for retaining composite inserts, which in combination with resins and laminates, prevents projectiles from penetrating a structure.

[0014]Another object of the present invention is to provide a uniform one-piece composite cellular structure made of continuous fibers providing high tensile strength in order to radially confine composite inserts used in connection with such grid.

Problems solved by technology

Such thick metal armor systems while effective can also be extremely heavy and, as such, cause problems relating to vehicle speed, fuel consumption and vehicle assembly.

Testing of such known armor systems having grid structures with composite inserts surrounded by preform sheets has revealed that the propagation of cracks and debris, created during impact, weakens the adjacent composite plates.

The propagation of such cracks results from poorly designed grid structures failing to eliminate both crack propagation, debris, and stress wave propagation.

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