Decoupling Layer Armor Plate for Ballistic Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective elements for vehicles and other objects against military threats face challenges in providing effective protection against both armor-piercing ammunition and splinters, as materials like ceramics or ultra-hard armor steel are brittle and easily penetrated by splinters, while softer materials that protect against splinters weaken the defense against armor-piercing ammunition, leading to complex and heavy constructions.
Innovation Solution
A protective element arrangement featuring a decoupling layer on the threat side that allows armor-piercing ammunition to penetrate undisturbed while absorbing and decoupling the shock wave from splinters, using a softer material like non-foamed polyurethane with a Shore hardness of 70 to 95, applied directly to the armor steel plate, which is designed to be the hardest layer, and optionally covered with a protective layer for added resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If harder materials like ceramics or ultra-hard armor steel are used, then protection against armor-piercing ammunition is improved, but protection against splinters deteriorates due to brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The protective element is divided into multiple functional layers: a hard armor plate layer for stopping armor-piercing ammunition and a softer decoupling layer for protecting against splinters. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in countering specific threats without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective element combines different materials with complementary properties - ultra-hard armor steel or ceramics for penetrating resistance and softer high-tensile materials like aramid or polyethylene for splinter protection. This composite structure achieves multi-threat protection that neither material could provide alone.
2Reliability
If softer materials like aramid fabric or polyethylene liners are used, then protection against splinters is improved, but protection against armor-piercing ammunition deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective element is divided into multiple functional layers: a hard armor plate layer for stopping armor-piercing ammunition and a softer decoupling layer for protecting against splinters. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in countering specific threats without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective element combines different materials with complementary properties - ultra-hard armor steel or ceramics for penetrating resistance and softer high-tensile materials like aramid or polyethylene for splinter protection. This composite structure achieves multi-threat protection that neither material could provide alone.
3Reliability
If multi-layered sandwich structures are used, then protection against both armor-piercing ammunition and splinters is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupling layer is applied directly to the armor plate surface, merging the splinter protection function into the armor plate assembly itself. This integration reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining dual-threat protection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoupling layer is implemented as a thin film or coating applied directly to the armor plate, rather than as thick discrete layers. This approach provides effective splinter protection while minimizing added complexity and weight compared to traditional multi-layer sandwich structures.
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
This design enhances protection against both armor-piercing ammunition and splinters with a simpler, lighter construction by decoupling the impact, reducing the risk of the armor plate being penetrated and providing effective resistance without significant weight increase, while maintaining high hardness against armor-piercing projectiles.
Implementation Method 1
If a splinter hits the decoupling layer over a large area, a shock wave results, which is introduced by the splinter into the armor plate via the decoupling layer. Since the shock wave propagates within the decoupling layer faster than the fragment penetrates the decoupling layer, the shock wave precedes the penetrating fragment in the direction of the armor plate behind it.
Implementation Method 2
As a result, the impact acting on the armor plate and the fragment striking the armor plate after penetrating the decoupling layer are decoupled from one another. The resistance of the protective element is thereby increased with simple means in such a way that both armor-piercing ammunition and fragments are held off in a simple manner.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a protection element for protecting an object from military threats, having an armour plate (2) with a threat side (3) facing a threat and an object side (4) facing the object being protected, a decoupling layer (5) being arranged on the threat side (3) to decouple the impact of a blow on the armour plate in the event of a ballistic strike from the impact of the ballistic object itself on the armour plate.