Splinter resistant composite laminate

Abstract

A composite component includes splinter arrestors laminated transverse to the fiber orientation of an outermost composite material layer. The splinter arrestors are located upon the outermost composite material layers at a predetermined distance from each other to constrain a splinter of fibers from the outermost composite material layers to an acceptable length.

1 . A composite component comprising: 
 a plurality of composite material layers comprising an outermost layer having a plurality of non-metallic tows, each of said non-metallic rows separated by a first distance; and    at least two non-metallic splinter arrestors laminated to said outermost layer of said plurality of composite material layers, said at least two non-metallic splinter arrestor arrestors oriented substantially transverse to a fiber direction of said outermost layer, said at least two non-metallic splinter arrestors separated by a second distance greater than said first distance.    
     
     
         2 . The composite component as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least two non-metallic splinter arrestors and said non-metallic tows are formed of graphite fibers.  
     
     
         3 . The composite component as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said splinter arrestor comprises a tow.  
     
     
         4 . The composite component as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said splinter arrestor comprises a monofilament.  
     
     
         5 . The composite component as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said splinter arrestor comprises a fabric tape.  
     
     
         6 . The composite component as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a subsurface composite material layer of said plurality of composite material layers below said outermost layer, said subsurface layer having a plurality of non-metallic tows and at least two gaps separated by said second distance, said two gaps located directly below said at least two splinter arrestors.  
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing a composite component comprising the steps of: 
 (1) laminating at least two non-metallic splinter arrestors to an outermost layer of a plurality of composite material layers, the at least two splinter arrestors substantially parallel to each other and transverse to a non-metallic fiber direction of the outermost layer to limit peeling of the outermost layer to the distance between the at least two splinter arrestors in response to a projectile passing through the composite component.    
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said step (1) further comprises laminating a plurality of relatively parallel splinter arrestors spaced a predetermined distance from each other to the outermost layer, the predetermined distance greater than a first distance between each of a plurality of twos in the outermost layer.  
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said step (1) further comprises eliminating tows in a subsurface composite material layer which correspond in orientation to the splinter arrestor.  
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said step (1) further comprises eliminating tows in a subsurface composite material layer which are parallel to and below the splinter arrestor.  
     
     
         11 . The composite component as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least two non-metallic splinter arrestors and said non-metallic tows are formed of fiberglass fibers.  
     
     
         12 . The composite component as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least two non-metallic splinter arrestors and said non-metallic tows are formed of ceramic fibers.  
     
     
         13 . The composite component as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least two non-metallic splinter arrestors and said non-metallic tows are formed of aramid fibers.  
     
     
         14 . A composite component comprising: 
 a plurality of composite material layers comprising an outermost layer having a plurality of tows, each of said tows separated by a first distance; and    a plurality of splinter arrestors laminated to said outermost layer of said plurality of composite material layers, said plurality of splinter arrestors oriented substantially transverse to said plurality of tows of said outermost layer, at least two of said plurality of splinter arrestors separated by a second distance greater than said first distance to limit peeling of the outermost layer to said second in response to a projectile passing through the composite component.    
     
     
         15 . The composite component as recited in  claim 14 , wherein each said plurality of non-metallic splinter arrestors are fabric tapes.  
     
     
         16 . The composite component as recited in  claim 14 , wherein each said plurality of non-metallic splinter arrestors and each of said plurality of tows are manufactured from non-metallic monofiber strands.  
     
     
         17 . The composite component as recited in  claim 16 , wherein each said plurality of splinter arrestors are tows.  
     
     
         18 . The composite component as recited in  claim 16 , wherein each said plurality of splinter arrestors arc single monofilament.