Shear-Thinning Fluid for Spin-Stabilized Non-Lethal Projectile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-lethal projectiles with lightweight materials face challenges in ballistic stability and effective marking due to temperature-related solidification or separation of marking fluids, leading to unpredictable performance and potential injury risks, especially in non-ideal storage conditions.
Innovation Solution
A non-lethal projectile design featuring a shear-thinning fluid with higher viscosity at low shear rates for spin stabilization and lower viscosity at high shear rates for proper dispersion, composed of glycerin, water, and emulsifying agents, which maintains stability and effective marking without increasing injury risk, and is formulated to resist phase separation across temperature extremes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the projectile uses lightweight materials to reduce impact energy, then the injury risk is reduced, but the ballistic characteristics and effective range deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile uses a composite structure combining lightweight frangible material (such as polymer or composite material) with a liquid marking fluid payload. This composite approach allows the projectile to maintain low weight for reduced impact energy while the liquid payload enhances ballistic characteristics through proper viscosity selection that provides spin stabilization during flight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent selects specific viscosity parameters for the liquid marking fluid to achieve desired ballistic performance. By carefully controlling the viscosity within certain ranges, the liquid provides optimal spin stabilization effect without excessive weight, thereby improving ballistic characteristics while maintaining the lightweight advantage.
2Reliability
If the marking fluid has high viscosity to improve spin stabilization, then ballistic characteristics improve, but the fluid cannot disperse properly upon impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a non-Newtonian shear-thinning fluid whose viscosity dynamically changes based on shear rate. During flight at low shear rates, the fluid maintains high viscosity for spin stabilization. Upon impact at high shear rates, the viscosity automatically decreases enabling proper dispersion. This dynamic viscosity adjustment resolves the contradiction between stabilization and dispersion requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid's viscosity parameter is selected to change with shear rate conditions. At low shear rates (flight conditions), the viscosity is high enough for spin stabilization. At high shear rates (impact conditions), the viscosity drops to enable dispersion. This parameter change with operating conditions allows the fluid to satisfy both contradictory requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the marking fluid is stored at extreme temperatures, then the projectile can be used in various environments, but the fluid solidifies or separates causing unpredictable performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite fluid system combining multiple components (such as water, glycerin, and emulsifying agents) that work together to maintain stability across temperature ranges. This composite formulation prevents solidification and phase separation at extreme temperatures, ensuring both environmental adaptability and compositional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid formulation is designed with specific compositional parameters that remain stable across temperature variations. By selecting appropriate component ratios and using temperature-resistant additives, the fluid maintains its physical and chemical properties despite temperature changes, preventing solidification and phase separation.
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 shear-thinning fluid enhances the ballistic characteristics of the projectile by maintaining stability and ensuring proper dispersion upon impact, while being non-toxic and easily removable, thus improving the overall effectiveness and safety of the projectile.
Implementation Method 1
a shear-thinning or pseudoplastic fluid that has a greater apparent viscosity at low shear rates to spin stabilize the non-lethal projectile during flight and a lower apparent viscosity at high shear impact with the target to properly disperse the fluid onto the target
Data Source
AI summary
A non-lethal projectile having a shear-thinning fluid within an interior cavity. The shear-thinning fluid having a greater apparent viscosity at low shear rates to spin-stabilize the non-lethal projectile during flight and a lower apparent viscosity at a high shear rate corresponding with the shear-thinning fluid shearing against the frangible cap upon the non-lethal projectile striking the target, with the low viscosity of the shear-thinning fluid allowing proper dispersal upon impact with the target. The shear-thinning fluid can comprise a marking media and be in the form of an emulsion with less than about 50% liquid by volume to effectively disperse upon impact with the target.