Vehicular based mine blast energy mitigation structure

Abstract

A blast energy mitigation structure may employ a V-shaped hull to decrease the pressure wave imparted to a vehicle during a blast event, and/or an energy absorbing structure to absorb a portion of the blast force, thereby minimizing the forces and accelerations experienced by passengers in the vehicle and consequently reducing their injuries and increasing their survivability during a blast event. An exemplary blast energy mitigation structure may have a V-shaped hull and an energy absorbing structure incorporated into the chassis of a vehicle such as a Tactical Wheeled Vehicle, the energy absorbing structure comprising a truss-like structure including I-beams.

1 . A blast energy mitigation system for mitigating effects of an explosive blast on a vehicle having a chassis, the blast energy mitigation system comprising:
 an energy absorbing structure attached to an underside of the vehicle chassis and adding rigidity thereto, the energy absorbing structure comprising structural members fastened together to form a truss-like structure, the truss-like structure comprising an upper and a lower horizontal flange portion connected by a vertical web portion to form an I-beam shape; and   a V-shaped hull connected to and covering the underside of the energy absorbing structure.   
   
   
       2 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a series of vertical structural members effective to space the truss-like structure from the vehicle chassis by a standoff distance. 
   
   
       3 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the truss-like structure is a unitary structure vertically spaced from the underside of the vehicle chassis and shaped in a horizontal “X” pattern extending across the underside of the vehicle chassis. 
   
   
       4 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the hull comprises a skin. 
   
   
       5 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 4  wherein the hull comprises a central horizontal section and two angled side sections rising up and away from the sides of the central horizontal section. 
   
   
       6 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the hull comprises a central horizontal section and two angled side sections rising up and away from the sides of the central horizontal section. 
   
   
       7 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 6 , wherein the central section meets each of the two angled side sections at different vertices running longitudinally under the vehicle. 
   
   
       8 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 7 , wherein the vertices are parallel and run substantially the length of the chassis. 
   
   
       9 . A blast energy mitigation system for mitigating effects of an explosive blast on a tactical wheeled vehicle, the blast energy mitigation system comprising:
 an energy absorbing structure attached to the underside of the tactical wheeled vehicle and adding rigidity thereto, the energy absorbing structure being vertically spaced from the underside of the tactical wheeled vehicle and comprising structural members fastened together to form a truss-like structure, the truss-like structure comprising an upper and a lower horizontal flange portion connected by a vertical web portion in the shape of an I-beam;   a hull connected to and running longitudinally along an underside of the energy absorbing structure, the hull comprising a skin.   
   
   
       10 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 9 , wherein the truss-like structure is shaped in a horizontal “X” pattern extending across the underside of the tactical wheeled vehicle. 
   
   
       11 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 9 , wherein the unitary structure is vertically spaced from the underside of the chassis by a uniform stand-off distance. 
   
   
       12 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 9 , wherein the hull is formed in the shape of a modified “V.” 
   
   
       13 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 12 , wherein the hull comprises a central horizontal section and two angled side sections rising up and away from the sides of the central horizontal section. 
   
   
       14 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 13 , wherein the central section meets each of the two angled side sections at parallel vertices running longitudinally under the vehicle. 
   
   
       15 . The blast energy mitigation system of  claim 14 , wherein the vertices run the length of the tactical wheeled vehicle. 
   
   
       16 . A method of mitigating effects of an explosive blast on a tactical wheeled vehicle and adding rigidity thereto, the method comprising:
 attaching a blast energy absorbing structure to the underside of the tactical wheeled vehicle, the blast energy absorbing structure comprising structural members fastened together to form a truss-like structure, the truss-like structure comprising an upper and a lower horizontal flange portion connected by a vertical web portion in an I-beam shape, the flange and web portions forming a unitary structure spanning an underside of a chassis of the tactical wheeled vehicle; and   covering an underside of the energy absorbing structure with a hull.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the unitary structure forms an “X” shape across the underside of the tactical wheeled vehicle chassis. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising providing a uniform standoff distance between the unitary structure and the underside of the tactical wheeled vehicle chassis. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the hull is shaped in a modified “V” shape. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the hull comprises a central horizontal section and two angled side sections rising up and away from the sides of the central horizontal section.