Shaped Detonation Grid for Shock Wave Refraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to effectively mitigate the destructive effects of shock waves generated by exploding ordnance, particularly on vehicles and personnel, as traditional armor is heavy and insufficient for lighter vehicles and leaves vulnerable areas unprotected.
Innovation Solution
A system that senses the direction and velocity of an incoming threat, calculates an intercept vector, and activates a detonator grid within an explosive charge to create a counteractive explosion, shaping and directing the shock wave away from the intended target by generating an expanding volume of heated gas that refracts and diminishes the shock wave's intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional armor is applied to vehicles to protect against shrapnel and shock waves, then protection capability is improved, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive mechanical armor with an active electronic system consisting of sensors, processors, and controlled explosive detonators. This electronic defense system detects incoming threats and actively generates counter-shock waves to neutralize them, substituting the need for heavy mechanical armor while providing equivalent or superior protection capability.
2Strength
If body armor is worn by individuals to protect against shrapnel, then partial protection is provided, but vulnerable areas remain unprotected
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle-mounted electronic defense system provides universal protection for all areas around the vehicle including previously vulnerable zones. The 360-degree sensor coverage and omnidirectional explosive detonator array ensure that shrapnel and shock waves are neutralized regardless of direction, protecting personnel without requiring them to wear restrictive body armor that leaves gaps.
3Strength
If stationary structures are hardened to withstand shock waves, then protection capability is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static hardened structures with a dynamic electronic defense system that uses sensors to detect incoming threats and controlled explosive detonators to generate counter-shock waves. This active system provides protection without requiring complex hardened construction, as the electronic response mechanism neutralizes threats before they impact protected targets.
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 system effectively deflects and reduces the impact of shock waves, providing protection to vehicles and personnel by directing the counteractive explosion's force away from the protected area, thereby minimizing damage and injury.
Implementation Method 1
detonation of the explosive charge creates an expanding volume of hot gases and heated plasma caused by rapid combustion of the explosive charge
Implementation Method 2
The outer boundary of the expanding volume of hot gases and plasma forms a pressure shock wave
Implementation Method 3
The volume of heated gas created by the explosion of the disclosed method and system may change the refractive index at the boundary between ambient air and the outer boundary of the shock wave from the counteractive explosion
Implementation Method 4
activating an explosive detonation grid within an explosive charge to detonate the charge in a manner that generates an explosion having an intercepting force directed along the intercept vector
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling the shape and direction of an explosion (24, 32) may include sensing the direction of an incoming threat (34), calculating an intercept vector for the threat, and triggering an explosive device (16) in a manner that may generate an intercepting force directed along the intercept vector. According to one embodiment, a system may include a sensor (12) configured to detect the direction of an incoming threat (34), an explosive device (16) including an explosive (18) and a plurality of embedded detonators (20), and a firing sequence calculator (14) connected to receive information from the sensor (12) regarding the direction of the threat and to trigger the detonators (20) sequentially to produce an explosion (24, 32) having a selected shape, direction and intensity to create a counteracting force in response to the incoming threat (34).