Concave Blast-Protection Element Deflecting Lateral Impulse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blast-protection elements for vehicles face challenges such as large impulse transmission and deformation from blasts, inefficient use of material tensile strength, and increased risk of roll-over due to higher center of gravity, particularly with V-shaped hull designs.
Innovation Solution
A blast-protection element with a deformable impact section featuring a concave blast-facing surface, including an apex part and blast-guiding parts that span at least 75% of the width, providing improved stiffness and deflecting blasts to the sides, thereby reducing reflected pressure and deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If V-shaped hull is used for improved protection against IEDs, then blast protection is improved, but center of gravity increases leading to higher roll-over risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a concave curvature to the blast-facing surface of the impact section, which deflects upward propagating blasts sideward more effectively than a V-shaped hull. This curved geometry provides improved blast protection while maintaining a lower center of gravity, thereby reducing roll-over risk compared to traditional V-shaped designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The impact section features an asymmetric cross-sectional profile with a concave blast-facing surface that is not symmetric like a traditional V-hull. This asymmetric design allows for optimized blast deflection patterns that redirect energy sideways while keeping the overall vehicle profile lower, thus improving protection without increasing roll-over susceptibility.
2Device complexity
If convex blast-protection element is used, then structure is simple, but blasts near centreline are not efficiently deflected sideward
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a convex outward-curving surface, the patent inverts the curvature to be concave on the blast-facing surface. This inverted geometry actively guides and deflects blast waves sideways, significantly improving deflection efficiency for centerline blasts while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes.
3Strength
If stiff structures are used to carry loads from blasts, then deformation is limited, but impulse transmission to vehicle is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the impact section by introducing a concave curvature with specific radius ratios (R1/R2 between 0.5-2.0). This geometric parameter optimization allows the structure to deform in a controlled manner that absorbs impulse while limiting deformation, reducing the impulse transmitted to the vehicle compared to traditional stiff flat or V-shaped structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The concave curved surface of the impact section is designed to deform in a predictable pattern during blast loading, with the curvature radius carefully selected to optimize the balance between deformation absorption and impulse transmission. This curved geometry allows energy dissipation through controlled deformation rather than rigid resistance.
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 solution effectively reduces the impulse transmitted to the vehicle, minimizes deformation, and optimizes the use of material tensile strength, while maintaining vehicle maneuverability and reducing the risk of roll-over by dispersing stress and deflecting blasts laterally.
Implementation Method 1
The downward pointing V-shaped geometry is intended to deflect upward propagating blasts occurring under the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
said impact section comprises a deformable impact section (2)
Data Source
AI summary
A blast-protection element for protecting a vehicle against a blast is disclosed. It includes a deformable impact section which has a blast facing surface, at least one apex part and at least two blast-guiding parts. The blast-guiding parts extend at opposed sides of the apex part, and the apex part further includes a protruding apex in the blast facing surface. The blast-guiding parts each include a concave portion of the blast-facing surface and the blast guiding parts in total span at least 75% of the width of the impact section and more than 90% of the blast-facing surface of each of the blast-guiding parts is concave.