Blast Impact Frequency Tuning via Elastic Viscoelastic Composite Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current composite materials fail to effectively dissipate energy from impact events, as highly dissipative materials alone are not sufficient, and existing designs do not optimally reduce both pressure and impulse transmission.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layered composite system comprising elastic and viscoelastic layers, where the elastic layers modulate stress wave frequencies to match the dissipative properties of the viscoelastic layers, allowing for efficient energy dissipation and impulse mitigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If highly dissipative materials are used alone, then energy dissipation is improved, but pressure and impulse transmission reduction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining elastic layers with viscoelastic dissipative layers to create a multi-layered structure. The elastic layers modulate stress wave frequencies while the viscoelastic layers dissipate energy, achieving both energy dissipation and pressure/impulse transmission reduction simultaneously. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties rather than relying on highly dissipative materials alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the frequency content of stress waves through the elastic layers. The elastic layers are designed to transform the frequency spectrum of incoming impulses, converting high-frequency content to lower frequencies that can be more effectively dissipated by the viscoelastic layers. This frequency parameter transformation enables optimal energy dissipation while reducing transmitted pressure and impulse.
2Loss of energy
If elastic layers are added to modulate frequency, then energy dissipation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the protective structure into distinct functional layers: elastic layers for frequency modulation and viscoelastic layers for energy dissipation. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally, with the elastic layers preprocessing the stress waves before they reach the dissipative layers, thereby improving overall energy dissipation efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple layered architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The MITIGATIUM™ design significantly reduces peak pressure and impulse transmission, demonstrated through both experimental and computational results, providing enhanced protection against impact and blast loads.
Implementation Method 1
a viscoelastic layer to dissipate energy at that frequency
Implementation Method 2
uses one or more elastic layers to modulate the frequency content of the stress wave traveling through the composite
Data Source
AI summary
A tuning and mitigation system and method for mitigating a blast or impact event having an elastic layer having an acoustic impedance chosen to tune stress waves resulting from the blast or impact to one or more specific tuned frequencies, and a dissipative layer made of a viscoelastic material having a critical damping frequency that matches at least one or more specific tuned frequencies.