Concave Fibre Armour Reducing Blunt Trauma

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fibre-based body armour currently suffers from significant deformation upon impact, leading to behind armour blunt trauma injuries due to the transfer of projectile impulse to the wearer's body, as it deflects projectiles rather than absorbing their force effectively.

Innovation Solution

A fibre-based protective armour element with a concave strike face design that increases axial tensile stress in the fibres upon impact, reducing deformation and the risk of blunt trauma, while maintaining a lightweight and thin profile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If fibre-based body armour is used to provide lightweight protection, then the weight and thickness are reduced, but deformation upon impact increases leading to behind armour blunt trauma

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of body armourVSAvoidbehind armour blunt trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a concave curvature to the strike face of the fibre-based armour element. This curved surface geometry modifies the impact mechanics by distributing the projectile's force more effectively across the armour structure, reducing the deformation that would otherwise be transmitted to the wearer's body and causing blunt trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Length of moving object

If fibre-based body armour is used to provide lightweight protection, then the thickness is reduced, but deformation upon impact increases leading to behind armour blunt trauma

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness of body armourVSAvoidbehind armour blunt trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The concave strike face geometry provides a structural advantage that compensates for the reduced thickness. The curved surface distributes impact forces more effectively, allowing the thinner fibre-based armour to provide adequate protection against blunt trauma without requiring increased thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Strength

If metal and ceramic inserts are used to provide protection against projectiles, then protection strength is improved, but weight increases making the armour uncomfortable and prone to being discarded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection strengthVSAvoidweight of body armour

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the fibre-based armour element by introducing a concave strike face. This parameter change allows the lighter fibre-based material to achieve protection levels comparable to metal and ceramic inserts without the weight penalty, thereby maintaining comfort and wearability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If fibre-based body armour is used to catch and spread projectile force, then penetration is prevented, but the impulse is transferred to the body causing blunt force trauma

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepenetration preventionVSAvoidblunt force trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The concave strike face geometry modifies how the armour handles the projectile impulse. The curved surface distributes the force more effectively across the armour structure and time, reducing the peak impulse transferred to the body while maintaining penetration prevention capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 concave strike face design significantly reduces deformation and the risk of blunt trauma injuries by distributing the force of the projectile impact more effectively, enhancing the protective capabilities of fibre-based body armour without increasing weight or thickness.

Implementation Method 1

the impact load causes a bulge to develop which deforms the back surface of the armour. Since the armour is worn adjacent to the body, this bulge or 'deformation' can extend into the body of the wearer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAxial tensile stress: Tension

Implementation Method 2

When a projectile strikes fibre-based body armour, the impact load causes a bulge to develop which deforms the back surface of the armour

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Implementation Method 3

the layers of high tensile strength material forming the body armour are intended to catch the projectile and spread its force over a larger portion of the wearer's body, and bring the projectile to a stop before it can penetrate into the body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce distribution:

Implementation Method 4

The concave strike face design significantly reduces deformation and the risk of blunt trauma injuries by distributing the force of the projectile impact more effectively

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce distribution:

Data Source

PatentEP2699869B1Protective armour element

Publication Date: 2017.05.31 NEDERLANDSE ORG VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3

AI summary

The invention is directed to a protective armour element (2), to body armour comprising one or more of such elements, and to a preventive method of reducing behind armour blunt trauma of an individual. The protective armour element (2) of the invention comprises a fabric and/or a fibre based composite, wherein said armour element, prior to impact of a projectile, has a concave strike face.