WO2011123086A1 - Système de blindage multicouche pour protection contre des charges creuses stationnaires et portées par des missiles - Google Patents

Système de blindage multicouche pour protection contre des charges creuses stationnaires et portées par des missiles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011123086A1
WO2011123086A1 PCT/US2009/031659 US2009031659W WO2011123086A1 WO 2011123086 A1 WO2011123086 A1 WO 2011123086A1 US 2009031659 W US2009031659 W US 2009031659W WO 2011123086 A1 WO2011123086 A1 WO 2011123086A1
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Prior art keywords
armor
layer
fiber
vehicle
members
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PCT/US2009/031659
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English (en)
Inventor
Vernon P. Joynt
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Force Protection Technologies, Inc.
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Publication date
Application filed by Force Protection Technologies, Inc. filed Critical Force Protection Technologies, Inc.
Priority to AU2009357653A priority Critical patent/AU2009357653B2/en
Priority to CA2748653A priority patent/CA2748653A1/fr
Priority to GB1114464.9A priority patent/GB2480939B/en
Publication of WO2011123086A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011123086A1/fr

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
    • F41H5/00—Armour; Armour plates
    • F41H5/02—Plate construction
    • F41H5/023—Armour plate, or auxiliary armour plate mounted at a distance of the main armour plate, having cavities at its outer impact surface, or holes, for deflecting the projectile
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
    • F41H5/00—Armour; Armour plates
    • F41H5/007—Reactive armour; Dynamic armour
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
    • F41H5/00—Armour; Armour plates
    • F41H5/02—Plate construction
    • F41H5/04—Plate construction composed of more than one layer
    • F41H5/0442—Layered armour containing metal
    • F41H5/0457—Metal layers in combination with additional layers made of fibres, fabrics or plastics

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an armor system that is resistant to penetration by high energy solid projectiles and jets of material from hollow charge weapons such as rocket propelled grenades ("RPG's”) and stationary shaped charger.
  • RPG's rocket propelled grenades
  • Conventional armor such as for protecting vehicles is subjected to a variety of projectiles designed to defeat the armor by either penetrating the armor with a solid or jet-like object or by inducing shock waves in the armor that are reflected in a manner to cause spalling of the armor such that an opening is formed and the penetrator (usually stuck to a portion of the armor) passes through, or an inner layer of the armor spalls and is projected at high velocity without physical penetration of the armor.
  • anti-armor weapons are propelled to the outer surface of the armor where a shaped charge is exploded to form a generally linear "jet" of metal that will penetrate solid armor; these are often called Hollow Charge (HC) weapons.
  • HC Hollow Charge
  • a second type of anti-armor weapon uses a linear, heavy metal penetrator projected at high velocity to penetrate the armor. This type of weapon is referred to as EFP (explosive formed projectile), or SFF (self forming fragment), or a "pie charge,” or sometimes a "plate charge.”
  • Hybrid warhead behaves as a hybrid of the HC and the EFP and produces a series of metal penetrators projected in line towards the target.
  • a weapon will be referred to herein as a Hybrid warhead.
  • Hybrid warheads behave according to how much "jetting" or HC effect it has and how much of a single big penetrator-like an EFP it produces.
  • Another type of anti-armor weapon propels a relatively large, heavy, generally ball-shaped solid projectile (or a series of multiple projectiles) at high velocity.
  • the impact indices shock waves that reflect in a manner such that a plug-like portion of the armor is sheared from the surrounding material and is projected along the path of the metal projectile(s), with the metal projectile(s) attached thereto.
  • Such an occurrence can, obviously, have very significant detrimental effects on the systems and personnel within a vehicle having its armor defeated in such a manner.
  • HC type weapons involve design features and materials that dictate they be manufactured by an entity having technical expertise
  • the later type of weapons can be constructed from materials readily available in a combat area. For that reason, and the fact such weapons are effective, has proved troublesome to vehicles using conventional armor.
  • the penetration performance for the three mentioned types of warheads is normally described as the ability to penetrate a solid amount of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) steel armor. Performances typical for the weapon types are: HC warheads may penetrate 1 to 3 ft thickness of RHA, EFP warheads may penetrate 1 to 6 inches of RHA, and Hybrids warheads may penetrate 2 to 12 inches thick RHA. These estimates are based on the warheads weighing less than 15 lbs and fired at their best respective optimum stand off distances. The diameter of the holes made through the first inch of RHA would be; HC up to an inch diameter hole, EFP up to a 9 inch diameter hole, and Hybrids somewhere in between.
  • RHA Rolled Homogeneous Armor
  • standoff distances for an HC charge is good under 3 feet but at 10 ft or more it is very poor; for an EFP charge a stand off distance up to 30 feet produces almost the same (good) penetration and will only fall off significantly at very large distances like 50 yards; and for Hybrid charges penetration is good at standoff distances up to 10 ft but after 20 feet penetration starts falling off significantly.
  • the way these charges are used are determined by these stand off distances and the manner in which their effectiveness is optimized (e.g., the angles of the trajectory of the penetrator to the armor). These factors effect the design of the protection armor.
  • Various protection systems are effective at defeating HC jets.
  • reactive armors that use explosives in the projection layers that detonate on being hit to break up most of the HC jet before it penetrates the target.
  • bulging armor components which upon impact by the jet, distort into the jet path to deflect or break up the jet to some extent. Both such systems are often augmented by what is termed “slat armor,” a plurality of metal slats or bars disposed outside the body of the vehicle to prevent the firing circuit for an RPG from functioning.
  • Armor solutions that offer a weight advantage against these types of weapons can be measured in how much weight of RHA it saves when compared with the RHA needed to stop a particular weapon penetrating.
  • This advantage can be calculated as a protection ratio, the ratio being equal to the weight of RHA required to stop the weapon penetrating, divided by the weight of the proposed armor system that will stop the same weapon.
  • Such weights are calculated per unit frontal area presented in the direction of the anticipated trajectory of the weapon.
  • an armor system that can defeat projectiles and jets from anti-armor devices, particularly rocket propelled grenades, without requiring an excess thickness of metal armor.
  • an armor system would be made of materials that can be readily fabricated and incorporated into a vehicle design at a reasonable cost, and even more preferably, can be added to existing vehicles.
  • an armor system for defeating missile-borne and stationary shaped charges directed against a vehicle, the missile having a forward conical component and a tip-mounted electric fuze, the vehicle having a hull with outer and inner surfaces.
  • the armor system includes a grid layer located outside of, and spaced away from, the outer surface of the armored vehicle, the grid layer having grid members separated one from the other a distance disposed to engage and disrupt the electrical firing mechanism of the tip-mounted fuze.
  • the armor system further includes a shaped layer having plurality of tapered members formed of a fiber- reinforced material between the grid layer and the outer surface of the vehicle defining depressions configured to receive the forward conical portion of an unexploded missile and to attenuate a high velocity jet emanating from an exploded missile and/or a stationary shaped charge.
  • an armor system for defeating a rocket propelled grenade directed at a vehicle the vehicle having a hull with outer and inner surfaces, the rocket propelled grenade of the type having a forward conical section and a tip-mounted
  • the armor system includes a net layer having a plurality of cord members spaced from the outer surface of the vehicle by support members, and a shaped layer having plurality of tapered members formed from a fiber-reinforced material and a layer of fiber-reinforced material abutting the base ends of the tapered members.
  • the tapered members are positioned between the net layer and the vehicle outer surface and have respective apex ends proximate the net layer and opposite base ends, the tapered members defining with adjacent tapered members a plurality of depressions opening in a direction away from the vehicle outer surface.
  • a mesh size of the net layer is selected to allow passage of the fuze component and to engage and deform the conical section of the missile to short-circuit the fuze component.
  • the armor system further includes bulging-type reactive elements disposed on surfaces of the tapered members defining the depressions.
  • a method of defeating missile-bome and stationary shaped charges directed at a vehicle the missile of the type having a conical forward portion, relative to its trajectory, and a tip-mounted electric fuze component, the vehicle having a hull with an outer surface.
  • the method includes the steps of interposing a grid layer comprised of a net or spaced bar/slat configuration in the missile trajectory spaced from the outer surface of a vehicle, the grid layer having a grid mesh size to engage the conical section to short circuit the fuze on a missile not detonating on the grid layer; interposing a shaped fiber-reinforced material layer downstream of the grid layer relative to the trajectory, the shaped fiber-reinforced layer having depressions therein and bulging armor with metal plates disposed on the surfaces forming the depressions, the depressions configured such that a jet formed by a missile detonating on the grid layer next encounters the bulging armor and the shaped layer material; moving the metal plates of the bulging armor obliquely into the path of the jet by a reaction of the impinging jet; deflecting the jet with the metal plates moved into its path; and attenuating the deflected jet in the fiber-reinforced materials of the shaped layer.
  • the armor systems also include one or more metal layers and/or one or more additional fiber-reinforced material layers disposed between the shaped fiber-reinforced material layer and the vehicle outer surface.
  • the fiber in the fiber-reinforced material may consist essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of: poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, stretch-oriented high density polyethylene, stretch-oriented high density polypropylene, stretch-oriented high density polyester, a polymer based on pyridobisimidazole, and silicate glass.
  • Presently preferred embodiments of the invention include fiber-reinforced materials having high density stretch-oriented polypropylene fibers consolidated by heat and pressure in a lower density polypropylene polymer.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an outer portion of a first embodiment of the disclosed armor system illustrating the configuration of the depressions in shaped layer formed by tapered members of a fiber-reinforced material downstream of a section of a net layer supported by "slat" armor, relative to a trajectory of a missile or jet;
  • Figure 2 is a schematic, cross-sectional view depicting performance of the armor system outer portion shown in Fig. 1 , with incident RPG-type missile warheads having conventional piezoelectric fuzes;
  • Figure 3 is a schematic, cross-sectional view depicting performance of the armor system outer portion shown in Fig. 1 , with an incident RPG warhead having a counter-measure fuze;
  • Figure 4 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the entire first embodiment of the disclosed armor system of Fig. 1 , shown in relation to a vehicle hull;
  • Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the disclosed armor system shown in relation to a vehicle hull;
  • Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the disclosed armor system where slat armor constitutes the grid layer and wherein fiber-reinforced material layers and layers of sheet metal armor are disposed behind the shaped layer;
  • Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the outer portion of a fourth embodiment where the slat armor constitutes the grid layer and wherein multiple layers of metal armor separated by dispersion spaces are disposed behind the shaped layer;
  • Figure 8 is a schematic top view of an outer portion of a fifth embodiment of the disclosed armor system.
  • Figure 9 is a photograph of a vehicle that includes conventional slat armor.
  • an armor system for defeating a range of anti-armor weapons. While the invention and its
  • embodiments may impede penetration of relatively non-elongated, heavy, solid metal projectiles formed and propelled by either manufactured explosive devices or improvised explosive device, its primary utility is to defeat devices generating elongated metal "jets,'' produced by shaped charges whether missile borne or stationary, along with the heavy solid projectiles.
  • the parameters of the system can be selected to defeat a particular projectile if its weight, density, velocity, and size are known.
  • the parameters of the system are the mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strength, hardness, elastic modulus, fracture toughness, and velocity of forced shock) of the layers of material comprising the layers of the invention, the spacing of the layers (the distance between layers, i.e. the thickness of the dispersion space) and the nature of any materials placed in the space between the layers.
  • the system contains a layer of fibrous material it attenuates the energy of the penetrating material by resisting the enlargement of an opening therein by virtue of the extremely high tensile strengths of the fibers comprising the fibrous sheet. Even if penetrated by an elongated penetrator, the initial opening resists enlargement and exerts high shear forces on the lateral surfaces of the elongated penetrator. This slows the penetrator and reduces the energy in the penetrator. This increases the probability that the next layer in the armor system will either defeat the penetrator, or further slow the penetrator such that layers of the system that will encounter the penetrator may have a better chance of defeating it.
  • the present invention there may be provided a plurality of rigid members located outside of and spaced from the outer surface of a vehicle.
  • An array of rigid members configured as slats elongated in the direction parallel to a vehicle surface that are suitable for use in the armor system is conventionally called "slat armor," and a vehicle using such armor is depicted in Fig. 9.
  • the "slat armor” is used as a support for the net-type grid layer to be discussed henceforth in relation to Figures 1-5.
  • the "slat armor” can itself comprise the grid layer, to be used in conjunction with the shaped layer of fiber-reinforced tapered members, and preferably with other armor layers, between the grid layer and the vehicle hull outer surface.
  • the present invention thus improves the performance of existing types of slat armor and provides a layered armor system which includes tapered members of a fiber-reinforced material configured in a shaped layer, and which may further include reactive armor elements (all to be discussed hereinafter), integrated with the slat armor.
  • the slats 10 are elongated members separated one from the other along their length by a distance di, and spaced a distance d 2 from the outer surface 46a of vehicle hull 46.
  • each adjacent slat 10 may be configured to allow the tip 12 of forward conical section 13 of a missile such as RPG 7 to pass between the slats 10.
  • the fuze mechanism of certain types of RPGs such as the RPG 7 includes a piezoelectric element 16 located at tip 12 that generates an electric pulse that is conducted to the rearwardly located fuze component (not shown) through the conical portion 13 of the RPG.
  • the electric pulse generated by the piezoelectric element of the firing mechanism is electrically short-circuited or otherwise prevented from reaching the rear fuze component, and the RPG warhead (the shaped charge that creates the jet) does not detonate.
  • Slat-slat spacings of about 68 mm have typically been used in conventional slat armor systems, but the spacing may be substantially increased in the presently disclosed system due to the net-type grid layer to be discussed below.
  • the remaining 40% of the RPG rounds hit a slat and detonate.
  • the space behind the slats that must accommodate «the length of the conical portion and tip-mounted fuze component without activating the fuze is empty.
  • the slats are supported from the vehicle by side support members (see Fig. 9) to achieve a stand-off distance of about 275 mm.
  • a layer of netting is positioned in front of and covering the rigid members.
  • the net layer may be configured to be supported by the rigid members against deflection toward the vehicle surface.
  • Conventional mechanical fasteners may be used for attaching the net to the rigid member supports, to provide both axial (toward the vehicle body surface) as well as lateral (parallel to the body surface) restraints on the net.
  • layer 50 of a net material is positioned to cover, and be supported by, slats 10.
  • the net layer is intended to provide essentially the same function as the conventional slat armor, that is, to laterally crush or otherwise deform the conical tip portion of an RPG to disable and/or short circuit the fuze, the mesh or grid size of net 50 may be made smaller than the spacing between the rigid members, namely slats 10 in Figs. 1-5. Moreover, the mesh size may be selected in view of the dimensions of the RPG type(s) expected in the battle theater.
  • mesh sizes of about - 3" may be useful, with the smaller mesh sizes used with existing slat armor (slat-slat spacing of about 68 mm).
  • the larger mesh sizes may be useful when the rigid members are spaced apart by distances di greater than
  • the net layer 50 may be formed from high strength, low stretch material such as Zytel®, a nylon material available from DuPont. Other net materials may be used including metal mesh fabricated from e.g., conventional braided steel cable of about 1/8" diameter. The higher weights for metal-based nets may be acceptable, because a metal mesh may be more durable and less prone to cutting. In either case, the crossing strands of the net material may be welded or otherwise bonded together at the crossing points to resist enlargement of the mesh openings by the RPG 7 conical section.
  • a shaped layer comprising tapered members formed from a fiber-reinforced material are placed between the rigid members and the outer surface of the vehicle.
  • the adjacent tapered members define cavities or depressions configured to receive the forward conical portion of a rocket propelled grenade before fuze contact can occur.
  • the system includes shaped layer 18 having tapered members 20 with sides 20c defining depressions 22 disposed to receive the conical section 13 of the RPG 7 including tip 12 with fuze component 16.
  • tapered members are configured in a wedge-shape and aligned with a respective slat 10 in a direction generally perpendicular to the vehicle surface, each with an apex 20a abutting a rear edge 24 of slat 10.
  • armor system configurations having some tapered members 20 not aligned with a respective rigid member are specifically contemplated. See discussion of the embodiment in Fig. 8, below. In such configurations, all the tapered members and resulting depressions would nevertheless be covered by the net layer.
  • tapered members 20 may be conservatively set to receive the full length of conical portion 13 of the specific RPG type of concern (typically 8 inches for an RPG 7). Also, the bases 20b of adjacent tapered members 20 may be separated as depicted in Fig. 1 to accommodate the width of a forward-mounted RPF fuze element, without contact with sides 20c such as about 20 mm, the diameter of the piezoelectric fuze component in RPG 7s. However, if the net layer 50 is configured with a mesh size less than the rigid member spacing (i.e., the spacing between slats 10 in Fig.
  • the length dimensions of tapered members 20 may be reduced, as crushing (and fuze disablement) engagement of conical section 13 by the net layer may occur at a location closer to tip 12.
  • This reduction in tapered member length may result in a more "compact" armor system, or the ability to use more or thicker layers of fiber-reinforced material and/or sheet type metal armor between the tapered members 20 and the vehicle hull 46, as discussed in more detail below.
  • the fiber-reinforced material of shaped layer 18 attenuates the energy of the penetrating jet following impact on a slat (see Fig. 2, lower portion) by resisting the enlargement of an opening therein by virtue of the extremely high tensile strengths of the fibers comprising the fibrous material. Even if penetrated, the initial opening resists enlargement and exerts high shear forces on the lateral surfaces of the penetrating jet material. This increases the probability that subsequent layers in the armor system will either defeat the jet before it engages the vehicle hull, or slow it such that layers interior to the hull that will encounter the jet may have a better chance of defeating it.
  • the fiber-reinforced material may be comprised of a plurality of fibers having an ultimate tensile strength greater than 2.5 GPa bonded to form the sheet by a polymer surrounding the fibers. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that any jet of material penetrating the fibrous layer must separate the fibers laterally and hence apply a tensile load on the fibers. When the fibers are sufficiently strong (have a high tensile strength), the material surrounding the jet constricts the jet and slows it substantially. Because the jet defeats armor by the inertia of an elongated (explosive formed) molten metal penetrator, the reduction of the velocity of the jet significantly reduces its effectiveness. Hence, due to jet attenuation by the tapered member 20 formed of such fiber-reinforced material the subsequent layers in the armor system of the present invention can more readily defeat the jet.
  • the fiber in the fiber-reinforced sheet armor consists essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of: poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, stretch-oriented high density polyethylene, stretch-oriented high density polypropylene, stretch-oriented high density polyester, a polymer based on pyridobisimidzole, and silicate glass.
  • the fiber-reinforced material consists essentially of stretch- oriented, high molecular weight polyethylenes, especially linear polyethylenes, having an ultrahigh molecular weight of 600,000 to 6,000,000 g/mol and higher.
  • Such fibers are bound together such as with a polymer matrix by heat and pressure to form a sheet-like product with polymeric matrix materials, for example thermosetting resins such as phenolic resins, epoxy resins, vinyl ester resins, polyester resins, acrylate resins and the like, or polar thermoplastic matrix materials such as polymethyl (meth)acrylate.
  • thermosetting resins such as phenolic resins, epoxy resins, vinyl ester resins, polyester resins, acrylate resins and the like
  • polar thermoplastic matrix materials such as polymethyl (meth)acrylate.
  • a particularly preferred fiber-reinforced sheet armor of this type is known commercially as Dyneema®, a product of DSM
  • Another preferred fiber-reinforced material consists essentially of a composite made of high molecular weight polypropylene.
  • tape yam of high molecular weight stretch-oriented polypropylene is woven into a fabric. Multiple layers of fabric are stacked and consolidated with heat and pressure to form rigid sheets using low molecular weight polypropylene as a matrix.
  • a particularly preferred fiber-reinforced sheet armor made of this type material is known commercially as Tegris®, a product of Milliken & Company, 920 Milliken Road, P.O. Box 1926, Spartansburg, South Carolina, 29303 USA. Such a material is described in U.S. Patent 7,300,691 to Callaway et al., the content of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein.
  • shaped layer 18 includes at least one continuous sheet of the fiber-reinforced material abutting the bases of the tapered members.
  • sheet 30 of fiber-reinforced material abuts bases 20b of tapered members 20.
  • Sheet 30 may consist essentially of the same material as that used in the tapered members 20.
  • the fiber-reinforced materials disclosed to be used in the tapered members 20 can be used in sheet 30 and those materials provide similar benefits with respect to impeding projectiles and jets as are provided when used in tapered members 20.
  • the thickness of fiber-reinforced material sheet 30 in the embodiments in Figs. 1-5 may be about 3".
  • the wedge-shaped tapered members 20 depicted in Fig. 1 may be formed from stacked layers of sheets of the fiber-reinforced material.
  • the cavities/depressions 22 can be formed by stacking different width sheets cut at an angle (e.g. about 7° in the Fig. 1 embodiment). While the embodiment depicted shows fiber-reinforced material sheets laminated to form tapered members 20 and a sheet-like layer of fiber-reinforced material 30 abutted thereto, these elements alternatively may be combined into a unitary shaped layer with depressions 22 and no interface between the members forming the depressions (shown here as 20) and the rear portion (shown here as sheet 30).
  • multi-layer armor embodiments for protecting against EFP penetrators work better against slower penetrators (e.g. about 2000m/s or less) than against faster penetrators like about 2500m/s and above
  • lower density materials can be used to slow the penetrator rather than metallic layers with spacings towards the rear of the assemblies, where those materials and spacings work better e.g. such as in the embodiment depicted in Fig. 7 and also in Fig. 4, Fig. 5, and Fig. 6.
  • Suitable "tough" (high elongation of fracture) titanium alloys may be used for the metal armor layers of the present invention, as well.
  • the armor system may include reactive elements positioned on the surfaces of the adjacent tapered elements that form the depressions.
  • reactive elements 60 are positioned on the side surfaces 20c of tapered members 20.
  • Each element 60 is a "bulging armor" type reactive element, which may comprise a layer of a rubber material sandwiched between two metal plates as depicted in Fig. 1.
  • the plates may be mild steel plates each of about 2 mm in thickness, and the rubber layer about 1 mm in thickness.
  • explosive reactive armor elements may be substituted for "bulging armor” elements 60. See U.S. 4,368,660 to Held, the disclosure which is hereby incorporated by reference, for a discussion of the principles of such reactive elements.
  • the purpose of the reactive elements is to deflect the metal plates into the trajectory of a HC jet upon impact by the jet, and thus break up and/or attenuate the jet. It is believed that the bulging occurs due to the Shockwave reflections at the steel plate-rubber layer interface, as depicted by the heavy dashed lines in Fig. 3.
  • the deflected plates act to disperse trailing portions of the jet and thus increase the chance that the remainder of the armor system can defeat the (smaller) lead portion of the jet.
  • RPGs may detonate upon encountering the webbing in layer net 50 at locations offset from the slats 10 and generate a high yield jet.
  • This jet may be deflected and/or attenuated by reactive elements 60 and then further attenuated by the fiber-reinforced material in tapered members 20.
  • the reactive elements 60 thus provide further protection to compensate for the diminished length of fiber reinforced material at locations away from slat 10.
  • the armor system of the present invention may also be preferred to provide in the armor system of the present invention, one or more sheet-like layers of metal armor between the shaped layer of fiber-reinforced material and the vehicle hull, to provide increased protection against solid projectiles accompanying the HC jets, such as in hybrid shaped charges.
  • a layer of aluminum armor plate 32 abutting the rear surface 34 of the first layer of fiber- reinforced material sheet 30.
  • the aluminum plate consists essentially of an aluminum alloy having an elongation at fracture of at least 7% and more preferably 10%.
  • Examples of preferred aluminum alloys include: 7017, 7178-T6, 7039 T-64, 7079-T6, 7075-T6 and T651 , 5083-O, 5083-H113, 5050 H116, and 6061 -T6. It is preferred that the aluminum plate have a thickness in the range of from 8 to 40 millimeters, and in the Fig. 4 embodiment a thickness of about 25 mm may be used.
  • the term armor in connection with a metal plate does not restrict the metal plate to metals and alloys that are known as armor materials. In certain applications ductile metals having high fracture toughness may be used and referred to as a "metal armor layer.”
  • a steel plate between the first aluminum plate and the hull, with the steel plate abutting the rear surface of the first aluminum plate.
  • a layer of steel plate 36 abutting the rear surface 38 of aluminum armor plate layer 32.
  • the steel plate has an elongation at fracture of at least 7% and more preferably 10%.
  • the steel can be SSAB Weldox 700; SSAB Armox 500T (products of SSAB Oxelosund of Oxelosund, Sweden); ROQ-TUF.
  • the steel armor plate layer have a thickness in the range of from 5 to 20 millimeters, and in the Fig. 4 embodiment a thickness of about 10 mm may be used.
  • an additional sheet-like layer of fiber-reinforced material between the steel armor layer and the hull, with the additional fiber-reinforced material layer abutting the rear surface of the steel armor layer.
  • a sheet-like layer 40 of fiber-reinforced material abutting steel layer 36.
  • the sheet-like layer of fiber- reinforced material 40 may consist essentially of the same material as that used in the fiber-reinforced components 20 and 30.
  • the materials disclosed to be used in the fiber-reinforced components 20 and 30 can be used in the second sheet-like layer 40 and those materials provide similar benefits with respect to impeding projectiles and jets as are provided when used in components 20 and 30.
  • the thickness of the fiber-reinforced material layer 40 may be about 3" in the Fig. 4 embodiment.
  • the aluminum plate may also be preferred to provide a second sheet-like layer of aluminum armor plate between the steel armor plate layer and the hull.
  • the second sheet-like layer of aluminum plate abuts the rear surface of the additional sheet-like layer of fiber-reinforced material.
  • second layer 42 of aluminum armor plate abuts rear surface 44 of the additional or second layer 40 of fiber-reinforced material and also abuts the outside surface 46a of hull 46.
  • the aluminum plate consists essentially of an aluminum alloy having an elongation at fracture of at least 7% and more preferably 10% and can be a material selected from the alloys disclosed above for use in the aluminum plate 32.
  • an aluminum plate thickness of about 25 mm can be used for layer 42.
  • the armor system can include, between the first sheetlike layer of aluminum armor plate and the hull, an additional or second sheet-like layer of fiber-reinforced material directly abutting the first aluminum armor plate layer, a second sheet-like layer of aluminum plate abutting the second sheet-like layer of fiber-reinforced material, a third sheet-like layer of fiber-reinforced material abutting the second aluminum armor plate layer, and a third sheet-like layer of aluminum armor plate abutting the third fiber-reinforced material layer.
  • second fiber-reinforced material layer 40 directly abuts first aluminum plate layer 32 (i.e., without a steel plate as in the Fig. 4 embodiment), followed by second aluminum armor plate layer 42, third fiber-reinforced material layer 80, and third aluminum armor plate layer 82.
  • Aluminum plate layer 82 may directly abut hull 46 and may be formed of the same material as aluminum plate layers 32 and 42, and have similar functions.
  • fiber-reinforced material layer 80 may be formed of the same material as layers 30 and 40, and tapered elements 20, and have similar functions.
  • layer 80 in the Fig. 5 embodiment may be about 3" thick.
  • the hull of the vehicle be formed of sheet-like armor metal for each of the embodiments shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
  • the material used to form the hull may be at least two different sheet materials.
  • the hull of the vehicle, a portion of which is depicted in Fig. 4 as element 46 may be formed of a tough sheet material.
  • the word "tough” is a material that resists the propagation of a crack there though, generally referred to as a material that has a high fracture toughness.
  • steel known as "ROQ-tuf AM700 (a product of Mittal Steel, East Chicago, Indiana).
  • SSAB Weldox 700 (a product of SSAB Oxel5sund of Oxelosund, Sweden) can also be used. Steels normally used for the construction of boilers like A517, A514 and other steels having similar yield strengths and elongation to break comparable to ROQ-tuf and Weldox 700 may also be used. Where the hull is to be of high strength armor plate, SSAB Armox 400 (a product of SSAB Oxel0sund of Oxelosund, Sweden), or an armor meeting U.S. MIL-A-46100 can be used.
  • a third sheet-like layer of fiber- reinforced material inside the hull, to attenuate the velocity of any projectile and jet fragments penetrating the hull.
  • a sheet-like layer of fiber-reinforced material 48 abutting the inner surface 46b of the hull 46.
  • the sheet-like layer of fiber-reinforced material 48 may consist essentially of the same material as the material used in the fiber- reinforced components 20, 30, and 40. Whether or not the material of elements 20, 30, 40, and 42 are the same, the materials disclosed to be used in the fiber- reinforced components 20, 30, and 40 can also be used in the sheet-like layer 48.
  • the primary purpose of the layer 48 is to stop or attenuate any fragments penetrating the hull so as to minimize lethality.
  • a rigid sheet-like layer of material consisting essentially of a high strength aramid fiber, e.g. Kevlar, in a polymer matrix abutting the rear surface of fiber-reinforced material layer 48.
  • the rigid layer 70 forms the interior-most layer of the overall armor system of the vehicle. Like the layer 48, the purpose of layer 70 is to retain any fragments that have passed through layer 48 to minimize risk from fragments to those in the vehicle.
  • Fig. 9 depicts such an embodiment, which is similar to that of Fig. 4 (but without net 50), having essentially the same
  • FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment also utilizing "slat armor” as the grid layer, but includes an array of spaced metal armor plates 32, 42 and 82, where the spaces between plates 32, 42 and 82 are configured as "dispersion spaces" 90, 92, and 94, as disclosed in co- pending applications of the present inventor, namely S.N. 11/521 ,3607 filed
  • the armor system of the present invention can use a grid layer of rigid members configured as elongated slats or rods, and thus be readily integrated with conventional slat armor.
  • the present invention is not restricted to the use of slat or rod-type rigid members, nor is it restricted to use of a net-type grid layer with support members elongated in a direction parallel to the vehicle surface.
  • Fig. 8 depicts a top view of an armor system having an array of post-like support members 110. Each post extends generally
  • Posts 1 10 may be a metal such as structural steel or aluminum and may be of a diameter sufficient to support net layer 150, which may be attached to the ends of posts 110 with mechanical fasteners (e.g. screw and washer 152), preferably removable.
  • mechanical fasteners e.g. screw and washer 152
  • the posts 110 are shown having a round cross-section, other shapes are contemplated, as are non-metal structural post materials. Materials and mesh sizes for net layer 150 may be the same as those for net layer 50 in the embodiments shown in Figs. 1-5, as the respective net layers have essentially the same functions.
  • each tapered member 120 surrounds a respective post 1 10 and has four generally planar, triangular sides extending down to a common sheet-like layer 130, which also may be formed from a fiber-reinforced material as in layers 30 of Figs. 1-5.
  • the sides 120c of adjacent pyramid members 120 form depressions 122 for receiving the leading conical sections of RPGs.
  • depressions 122 can have the same depth dimension as the depth dimension of tapered member 20 in the Fig. 1 - Fig. 5 embodiments.
  • the bases 120b of pyramid members 120 can be spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate an RPG fuze component.
  • triangular or trapezoidal-shaped bulging armor-type reactive elements 160 are disposed on the side surfaces of the pyramid-shaped tapered members 120.
  • Reactive elements 160 may be of essentially the same construction and have the same intended function as reactive elements 60 of the embodiments depicted in Figs. 1 -5.
  • the balance of the armor system for the Fig. 8 embodiment that is, the portion of the armor system between the fiber-reinforced sheet 130 and the vehicle hull, would include layers corresponding to the combinations of sheet-like metal armor layers and fiber-reinforced material layers disclosed in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 embodiments between fiber-reinforced sheet 30 and hull 46. It is further contemplated that an overall vehicle armor system may include one or more armor layers inside the vehicle hull, such as corresponding to layers 48 and 70 disclosed in Fig. 4.
  • the rigid support posts 110 need not be included in every tapered pyramid member 120. That is, if sufficient tension can be provided in net layer 150 using fewer posts 1 10, such as using only the middle post 110 in the top and bottom rows and the outside posts in the middle row of the 3x3 pyramid module, post ends shown darkened in Fig. 8, the chance of RPG impact and detonation on the rigid post component of the armor system may be further reduced.
  • modules 90 and 92 may be of any convenient size, e.g. 2' x 2', or be sized and configured geometrically for a particular area on the vehicle hull.
  • the rigid post elements may be included if mounted on a metal armor plate layer corresponding e.g. to metal armor plates 32, 36, or 42 in Fig. 4, depending upon the configuration of the module, as one skilled in the art would appreciate.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
  • Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de blindage pour résister à des missiles de type grenade propulsée par fusée ("RPG") et/ou des jets à haute vitesse créés par des charges creuses dirigées contre un véhicule. Ce système de blindage comprend une couche maillée telle qu'un filet et/ou un ensemble de tiges ou de barres, placées à distance de la surface extérieure du véhicule au moyen d'éléments de support. La couche maillée présente une dimension de maille caractéristique ou un espacement barre/tige caractéristique pour briser le mécanisme de mise à feu du missile. Ce système de blindage présente également une pluralité d'éléments effilés formés à partir d'un matériau renforcé par des fibres, positionnés entre la couche maillée et la surface extérieure du véhicule et présentant des extrémités respectives côté sommet, proches de la couche maillée, et des extrémités côté base, lesdits éléments effilés définissant avec des éléments effilés adjacents une pluralité d'évidements ouverts dans une direction de façon à recevoir une partie conique entrante d'un missile de type RPG non explosé, ou un jet émanant d'une RPG explosée ou un autre dispositif anti-blindage, une couche de matériau renforcé par des fibres venant en butée contre les extrémités côté base des éléments effilés. Ce système de blindage peut également comprendre des élément réactifs disposés sur des surfaces des éléments effilés définissant les évidements pour dévier les jets incidents. Ledit système peut comprendre en outre une ou plusieurs couches de blindage métallique disposées entre la couche façonnée de matériau renforcé par des fibres et la surface du véhicule.
PCT/US2009/031659 2008-01-23 2009-01-22 Système de blindage multicouche pour protection contre des charges creuses stationnaires et portées par des missiles WO2011123086A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2009357653A AU2009357653B2 (en) 2008-01-23 2009-01-22 Multilayer armor system for defending against missile-borne and stationary shaped charges
CA2748653A CA2748653A1 (fr) 2008-01-23 2009-01-22 Systeme d'armure multicouche pour la protection contre les charges formees a vecteur missile et les charges formees stationnaires
GB1114464.9A GB2480939B (en) 2008-01-23 2009-01-22 Multilayer armor system for defending against missile-borne and stationary shaped charges

Applications Claiming Priority (10)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US660108P 2008-01-23 2008-01-23
US660008P 2008-01-23 2008-01-23
US61/006,601 2008-01-23
US61/006,600 2008-01-23
US664308P 2008-01-24 2008-01-24
US61/006,643 2008-01-24
US664908P 2008-01-25 2008-01-25
US61/006,649 2008-01-25
US6423408P 2008-02-22 2008-02-22
US61/064,234 2008-02-22

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WO2011123086A1 true WO2011123086A1 (fr) 2011-10-06

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DE102010000649B4 (de) 2010-03-05 2013-04-25 Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Gmbh & Co. Kg Verfahren zur Instandsetzung eines Verbundpanzerungselements sowie Reparatur-Set zur Durchführung der Instandsetzung

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EP2455703A1 (fr) * 2008-12-29 2012-05-23 Ruag Land Systems AG Protection d'un objet contre les charges creuses

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CA2748653A1 (fr) 2009-07-23
AU2009357653B2 (en) 2012-04-19

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