WO2024005751A1

WO2024005751A1 - Ballistic ceramic structuring

Info

Publication number: WO2024005751A1
Application number: PCT/TR2023/050545
Authority: WO
Inventors: Samet ÖCAL; Esra VAROL; İpek Cansin ÇAPCI
Original assignee: Nurol Teknoloji̇ Sanayi̇ Ve Madenci̇li̇k Ti̇caret Anoni̇m Şi̇rketi̇
Priority date: 2022-06-29
Filing date: 2023-06-09
Publication date: 2024-01-04
Also published as: TR2022010719A2

Abstract

The invention pertains to ceramic armour systems used in the defence industry, security, and military protection fields. The invention particularly encompasses a ballistic ceramic structure that includes concave (11) and convex (12) surfaces, which interact with each other to increase the ballistic effective volume. By interlocking the ceramic tiles, it prevents the formation of ceramic-free areas, thus providing effective ballistic protection. The invention has been developed to design lighter armours by directing the angle of incoming ammunition through inclined surfaces within the protection area.

Description

BALLISTIC CERAMIC STRUCTURING

TECHNICAL FIELD

Armoured composite protection refers to the use of composite materials in the construction of protective panels or structures that are designed to withstand various threats such as ballistic impacts, blasts, and other forms of physical attacks. Armoured composite protection panels are used in armoured land vehicles, personnel protection shields, and personnel protection areas. There are various research and development projects aimed at enhancing armour performance. Ballistic ceramic is one of the main materials used in composite armour panels. This invention aims to improve the performance of ceramics in armour structures by optimizing their geometry to enhance their resistance against specific threats.

The invention particularly relates to a ballistic ceramic structuring comprising convex and concave surfaces which increase the ballistic effective volume by interconnecting with each other and provide effective ballistic protection by preventing the formation of ceramic-free areas by locking tiles to each other by the interweaving.

STATE OF THE ART

Armoured composite structures are used in armoured vehicles, personnel protection vests, and personnel protection shields. Currently, research and development efforts are being carried out to enhance armour performance and reduce its weight. The areas on the armour surface that pose ballistic vulnerabilities are defined in many ballistic standards. R&D studies are ongoing to increase the ballistic protection area and reduce the weak areas in terms of ballistic performance. Ceramic-composite armours with different geometries are designed within this scope. The traditional ceramic geometries include square, cylindrical, and hexagonal shapes. The points where these geometries intersect are referred to as Localized Weak Areas (LWA) in the standards.

In the state of the art, it is seen that there is a damaged area due to ballistic vulnerability at the junction points of the ceramics in conventional ceramic arrangement methods. In the state of the art, this geometry reduces the ballistic vulnerability in these areas. Because of the reduction in ballistic vulnerability, the performance of the armor increases. The support and seamless coverage provided by the ceramics at the intersections enhance the performance of the armour. This allows the design of lighter armour with the same level of protection.

In the designs of recessed ceramic parts in the state of the art, it is seen that the adhesive component that fixes the ceramics together cannot enter the ceramic junction points and the adhesion performance decreases. In this case, it causes ballistic vulnerability similarly.

In the state of the art, application CN107556012A utilises a cylindrical domed geometry structure. Herein, ballistic resistance is high, but there is a ballistic vulnerability due to the ceramic-free area formed at the joints.

In the state of the art, although the hexagonal geometry structure is utilised in the application US8833229B2, there are ballistic vulnerability and bonding difficulties at the joints. Besides, the geometry structure creates moulding difficulties and reduces mould efficiency.

As a result, for the solution of the above-mentioned problems of the state of the art, the need for a new economical, convenient ceramic plate without protection vulnerability and the inadequacy of the existing solutions have made it necessary to make a development in the relevant technical field. THE AIM OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ballistic ceramic structuring, which is developed to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and to bring new advantages to the related art, and which does not have protection vulnerability in the joints used in protection systems against ballistic armour.

The most important aim of the invention is to prevent vulnerability in edge and corner joints due to the angled and supporting geometry.

Another important aim of the invention is the interlocking of the geometry to prevent the formation of ceramic-free areas at the edges. (LWA)

Another important aim of the invention is to support the junction points of the three ceramics by the ceramics and to guide the ammunition into the ceramics by means of the angle. Thus, it improves the ballistic performance of the panel.

The structural and characteristic properties and all advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood with the figures given below and the detailed description written with reference to these figures therefore, the assessment should also be made by taking these figures and the detailed description into account.

FIGURES TO ASSIST UNDERSTANDING THE INVENTION

FIGURE 1 is the drawing showing the ballistic ceramic structuring that is the subject of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is the drawing showing the ballistic ceramic structuring that is the subject of the invention as disassembled. FIGURE 3 is the drawing showing the ballistic ceramic structuring that is the subject of the invention from above.

FIGURE 4 is the drawing showing the tile of the ballistic ceramic structuring that is the subject of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10. Tile

11. Concave Surface

12. Convex Surface

13. Centre Joint

14. Convex Transition

15. Concave Transition

16. Interfacial Angle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the ballistic ceramic structuring are explained only for a better understanding of the subject and without any limiting effect.

In the invention, ceramic tiles (10), which are designed to be angled and supported by each other, are arranged in a pattern to improve the ballistic performance of armoured systems. The hexagonal geometry of the tile (10) has three concave surfaces (11) and three convex surfaces (12). During the assembly of the tiles (10), the concave surface (11) and the convex surface (12) are connected to each other. All edges of the joined ceramic tiles (10) are supported by the neighbouring ceramic tiles (10). Therefore, the effective thickness is not lost while increasing the effective volume to be used after ballistic impact. At the same time, by means of the angle (16) of the concave surface (11) and convex surface (12) elements, the destructive energy coming from the ballistic impact is transmitted to the neighbouring tiles (10) at an angle, and the energy absorption feature is improved. Thus, higher-performance products are obtained at lower thicknesses. This has the effect of reducing the weight of armoured panels. The interfacial angle (16) region, which is optimised in line with the threat for which the armour is designed, determines the active ballistic area of the armour. This angle directly affects ballistic performance.

Figures 1 - 4 show the ballistic ceramic structuring that is the subject of the invention and its details. In the invention, when the tiles (10) are brought together, the ballistic effective volume is increased by interconnecting the concave surface (11) and the convex surface (12) with each other. Thus, more effective protection area is provided. The centre joint (13) between the concave (11) and convex surfaces (12) is used to increase energy distribution with blunt edges, to provide the transition between the mentioned elements (11, 12), to provide the transition of the adhesive to be used for fixing the tiles (10), and to provide the production adaptation of the ceramic tile (10) and increase its strength. Likewise, the convex transition (14) and concave transition (15) between the concave (11) and convex surfaces (12) are provided with the help of the accessibility of the adhesive material applied after laying ceramic tiles (10) to the lower surfaces and the gap formed during the laying with this chamfer (15) on the edges. Besides, these elements (14, 15) support the pressure-forming process of ceramic powder. In the invention, the angle (16) of the concave surface (11) and convex surface (12) elements directly affects the ballistic performance. This angle (16) is designed according to the threat and is effective in determining the ballistic effective area. By means of the centre joint (13) of the invention, the ceramic tile (10) enables avoiding the sharp corners within its effective volume and the destructive effect caused by these corners.

The convex surface (14), located at two opposite corners of the invention, and the concave surface (15), located at two opposite edges of the upper and lower surfaces of the invention, are designed as performance enhancers during the application of the adhesive after the tiles (10) are brought together. While the applied adhesive can be transmitted from the upper surface of the tiles (10) to the lower surface of the tiles

(10) by means of the convex transition (14), it can also be applied between neighbouring ceramic tiles (10) by means of the concave transition (15).

The pattern structure is formed by the interweaving of the convex (12) and concave

(11) structures of the ceramic tiles (10), and this structure provides more effective protection by naturally interlocking and interweaving of the tiles (10). Besides, the interlocking of the tiles (10) prevents the formation of a ceramic-free area at the edge zones.

The scope of protection of this application has been determined in the claims section and cannot be limited to what is explained above definitely for exemplary purposes. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can demonstrate the innovation set forth in the invention by using similar embodiments and/or can apply this embodiment to other similar purposes used in the related art. Therefore, it is obvious that such constructions will lack the criteria of innovation and especially go beyond the state of the art.

Claims

Armored composite structures provide ballistic protection against specific threats. With this invention, ceramic tile pieces interact with each other, creating concave (11) and convex (12) surfaces that increase the ballistic effective volume. By preventing the formation of ceramic-free areas and interlocking the ceramic tiles, effective ballistic protection is achieved. As a result, the armor's protective capacity is increased. - The ballistic ceramic structuring according to Claim 1, comprising; a centre joint (13), which enables avoiding the sharp corners within the effective volume of the ceramic tile (10) and the destructive effect caused by these corners. - The ballistic ceramic structuring according to Claim 1, comprising; a concave transition (15) which improves the adhesive performance after joining the tiles (10) together, enables the applied adhesive to be transferred from the upper surface to the lower surface of the tiles (10) and/or enables the adhesive to be applied between neighbouring ceramic tiles (10). - The ballistic ceramic structuring according to Claim 3, wherein; the angle (16) of the concave surface (11) and convex surface (12) elements transmits the destructive energy coming from the ballistic impact to the neighbouring tiles (10) at an angle.