Resiliently Mounted Armor Panel Impact Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional armor panels face a tradeoff between being lightweight and flexible, which provides less protection, and rigid and heavy designs that are more protective but cumbersome, necessitating a need for a lightweight yet highly protective solution.
Innovation Solution
A resilient armor assembly comprising a base plate and an armor panel separated by a resilient member, such as a coil spring or elastomeric material, which absorbs impact energy and prevents projectile penetration, allowing the armor panel to be lighter while maintaining protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If armor is made rigid and heavy to provide greater protection, then protection level is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The armor assembly combines a rigid armor panel with resilient members (springs or elastomeric materials) to create a composite structure. This composite design allows the system to achieve high protection levels through the rigid panel while the resilient members absorb impact energy, enabling weight reduction compared to purely rigid armor of equivalent protection level.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient members are positioned between the armor panel and base plate to provide预先 cushioning. When a projectile impacts the armor panel, the resilient members compress and absorb impact energy before the force is transmitted to the base plate, thereby protecting against penetration while allowing the armor panel to be lighter than solid rigid armor would require.
2Weight of moving object
If armor is made flexible and lightweight, then weight is reduced, but protection level decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a composite structure combining rigid armor panel material with resilient member material. The rigid panel provides ballistic protection while the resilient members provide shock absorption, achieving a balance where the overall assembly is lighter than solid rigid armor of equivalent protection while maintaining adequate protection levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The armor assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the armor panel for ballistic resistance and the resilient members for energy absorption. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling weight reduction while maintaining protection through the coordinated action of the segmented components.
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 enables a lightweight armor panel to effectively absorb and distribute impact energy, providing a high degree of protection without the weight and rigidity issues of traditional armor, allowing for greater versatility and protection in various applications.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient member has a spring coefficient sufficient to resiliently deform and prevent a projectile from rupturing and penetrating the armor assembly when the armor assembly is struck with a given impact load
Implementation Method 2
The guide member permits movement of the armor panel toward the base plate in a direction generally normal to the armor panel and resists movement of the armor panel relative to the base plate in a direction generally parallel with a surface of the armor panel
Data Source
AI summary
An armor assembly having an armor panel, a base plate, and a resilient member coupled between the armor panel and the base plate is disclosed. An impact blast or projectile will strike the armor assembly and deflect the armor panel and the resilient member. The resilient member and armor panel absorb sufficient energy from the impact blast or projectile to prevent harm to underlying structures. The resilient member can be a spring or a solid member having a desired spring coefficient to protect against a certain impact load.