Blast mitigation

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for mitigation of the effects associated with both blast and shrapnel. The mitigating apparatus is designed with alternating layers of blast mitigating substance, preferably liquid or hydrophilic gel or other viscous fluid, and anti-ballistic substance, preferably a textile, to treat both the air shock wave and the bomb-generated fragmentation and shrapnel, which originate from a detonation or explosion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to the field of blast mitigation that results in a decrease of the damage associated with explosives.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Terrorist attacks which target civilians and public places by using charges and bombs, as well as ordnance and explosives in storage, etc., are common in today's world. When such a bomb or charge explodes, it can damage nearby buildings and structures and may result in injuries and even fatalities. The damage, which originates from the blast, is caused by two main phenomena: the air shock waves and the shrapnel, which propagate following the blast. The air shock waves are short duration compressive waves, which move radially outward through the air from the blast source. These high pressure waves, which propagate immediately, create a shock wave which causes devastation through their propagation. The shock waves also heat the air to extremely high temperatures, a phenomenon known as t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]There is provided according to the present invention an apparatus and a method for mitigation of the effects associated with both blast and shrapnel. The mitigating apparatus is designed with alternating layers of blast mitigating substance, preferably liquid or hydrophilic gel or other viscous fluid, and anti-ballistic substance, preferably a textile, to treat the two main causes of damage originating from a detonation or explosion, namely, the air shock wave, which is the first to propagate after the explosion, and the bomb-generated fragmentation and shrapnel, which propagate following the air shock wave. The fluid suppresses the air shock wave, absorbing some of its energy, and the anti-ballistic textile layers inhibit continued movement of the shrapnel.

Problems solved by technology

When such a bomb or charge explodes, it can damage nearby buildings and structures and may result in injuries and even fatalities.

These high pressure waves, which propagate immediately, create a shock wave which causes devastation through their propagation.

The shrapnel, which is spread following the blast, gains its high kinetic energy from the blast's energy and, therefore, is another source of damage and devastation.

The effect of the water is limited with regard to shrapnel which originates from the charge and follows the shock wave.

Thus, when the shrapnel interacts with the mitigating material, such as water, which is present in the prior art systems, this mitigating material has already interacted with the shock waves and, therefore, the effectiveness of the liquid with regard to stopping the energetic shrapnel is significantly reduced.

The inability of existing devices to effectively mitigate both the shock wave energy and the shrapnel energy is becoming more and more of a liability, as terrorists' charges deliberately contain metal nails and other sharp metal debris.

However, since silicone gel has no water, it does not mitigate blast waves and cannot be washed away after use.

Furthermore, the device must be filled in advance and is extremely heavy.

Images