Segmented Fibrous Armor with Friction-Reducing Separator Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of aramid fabric layers impregnated with shear thickening fluid (STF) in body armor often results in a deterioration of anti-ballistic properties, and existing solutions fail to effectively improve both anti-ballistic and flexibility aspects simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A protective material comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous armor material separated by friction-reducing polyimide layers, where all layers are impregnated with STF, enhancing energy dissipation and reducing inter-layer friction, thereby improving ballistic properties and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If aramid fabric layers are impregnated with shear thickening fluid (STF) to improve flexibility and anti-ballistic properties, then flexibility is improved, but anti-ballistic properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The armor structure is segmented into multiple discrete layers with separator layers positioned between the fibrous armor material layers. This segmentation allows each layer to function independently, with the fibrous layers providing ballistic protection and the separator layers reducing inter-layer friction, thereby maintaining flexibility while preserving anti-ballistic properties.
Solution Approach 2:
Separator layers act as intermediary elements between the fibrous armor material layers impregnated with STF. These separator layers mediate the interaction between adjacent armor layers, reducing friction and allowing the STF-impregnated layers to maintain flexibility without compromising their anti-ballistic performance.
2Reliability
If multiple layers of fibrous armor material are used to improve anti-ballistic protection, then anti-ballistic properties are improved, but bulkiness and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The armor system is divided into multiple thin discrete layers separated by thin separator layers. This segmentation allows the use of multiple layers for enhanced protection while keeping each individual layer thin, thereby reducing overall bulkiness and thickness compared to conventional multi-layer armor structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Thin separator layers are used to separate the fibrous armor material layers. These thin films reduce the overall thickness and bulkiness of the armor structure while maintaining the protective function through reduced inter-layer friction, allowing for a more compact design.
3Reliability
If multiple layers of fibrous armor material are used to improve anti-ballistic protection, then anti-ballistic properties are improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The armor is constructed with multiple discrete layers separated by thin separator layers. This segmentation enables the use of multiple layers for improved protection while minimizing the weight contribution of each separator layer, resulting in a lighter overall structure compared to conventional multi-layer armor.
Solution Approach 2:
Thin separator layers are employed to separate the armor layers, minimizing the additional weight introduced by the separator structure. These thin films provide the necessary friction-reducing function with minimal mass penalty, preserving the weight-sensitive design requirements.
4Ease of operation
If layers of fibrous armor material are separated by separator layers to reduce inter-layer friction and improve flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The armor structure is segmented into repeating units of fibrous armor material layers separated by separator layers. This regular segmentation pattern, while adding structural elements, creates a predictable and manufacturable structure that balances flexibility improvement with manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator layers serve multiple functions: reducing inter-layer friction to improve flexibility, maintaining layer separation to preserve anti-ballistic properties, and providing a consistent structural framework that simplifies manufacturing. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural elements.
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 achieves reduced bulkiness, weight, and improved ballistic performance with a favorable back face trauma signature, demonstrating increased energy absorption and dispersion across a wider area, while maintaining or exceeding the ballistic threshold of unimpregnated layers.
Implementation Method 1
the separator layer is a friction reducing layer for reducing inter-layer friction
Implementation Method 2
STF's are non-Newtonian fluids which exhibit substantial increases in viscosity under the application of a shearing force
Implementation Method 3
Protective material for dissipating the kinetic energy of a moving object
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
According to the invention there is provided a protective material (10) for dissipating the kinetic energy of a moving object including a plurality of layers (12) of fibrous armour material in which at least some adjacent layers of fibrous armour material are separated by one or more separator layers (14) for reducing inter-layer friction.