Multiaxial Composite Armor Reinforcement for Blast Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing armor reinforcement methods for armored vehicles, particularly in the wheel arches and underbody, are vulnerable to mechanical stresses from explosions due to weak connections between steel elements, which can lead to injury or death of occupants and allow pressure waves to penetrate the passenger compartment.
Innovation Solution
A multiaxial composite material reinforcement device is used, made in one piece with continuous fibers extending on either side of connection zones, applied externally or internally, and comprising a sandwich structure with a core for enhanced blast wave resistance, produced through molding processes like draping or resin transfer molding, to avoid weld openings and distribute mechanical stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel elements are connected by welding or riveting to form thick armor structures (4-8 mm), then the structural strength is improved, but the connection zones become potential weaknesses that can open under blast stress, allowing pressure waves to penetrate the passenger compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials consisting of multiple plies of fiber-reinforced material (such as glass, carbon, or aramid fibers) arranged in multiaxial configurations. This composite structure provides both the required structural strength and blast resistance without creating weak connection zones, as the continuous fiber layers span across what would traditionally be welded joints, distributing stresses uniformly throughout the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The armor structure is divided into multiple thin plies or layers of composite material rather than using single thick steel elements. This segmentation allows each layer to flex and absorb blast energy independently while maintaining overall structural integrity, preventing the kind of catastrophic failure that occurs at welded joints in traditional thick-plate construction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional steel armor elements are used with thick dimensions (4-8 mm), then protection against blast waves is improved, but the complexity of assembly increases due to multiple welding or riveting operations required to join elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protective functions into a single integrated composite structure. The multiaxial composite plies are formed as a unified component that simultaneously provides blast resistance, structural strength, and coverage across multiple surfaces, eliminating the need for separate steel elements and their associated welding or riveting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters from thick steel (4-8 mm) to multiple thinner composite plies with optimized fiber orientations and material compositions. This parameter change maintains or improves blast resistance while dramatically simplifying assembly, as the composite structure can be installed as pre-fabricated panels without requiring complex metal joining operations.
3Reliability
If fixation means are used to attach the reinforcement device to structural elements, then the device can be securely mounted, but the fixing points become additional weak points that can transmit shock waves and allow pressure wave penetration during explosions
Solution Approach 1:
The composite reinforcement device utilizes flexible yet strong thin film structures that can conform to and adhere to the structural elements without requiring penetrating fixations. The multiaxial composite plies create a flexible shell effect that maintains secure mounting through adhesion and mechanical interlocking while avoiding rigid fixation points that would transmit shock waves.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device (1) has a multiaxial composite structure adapted to be fixed at shielding elements (3) of a wheelhouse (2) in a structure (6) of a lower part of an armored or civil vehicle so as to cover a region arranged around a connection zone that joins the shielding elements. The composite structure includes continuous fibers extended on both sides of the zone. The composite structure is formed as a single piece using a material having high shock wave dissipation rate, such as glass fiber, aramid fiber or carbon fiber, or sandwich material having honeycomb or structural rigid foam core.