Complex Geometry Composite Armor for Military Applications

Abstract

The present invention utilizes a layered armor concept, combining engineered and naturally-occurring materials, to mitigate damage to a vehicle from explosively formed projectiles (EFPs), particularly those projectiles with impact velocities greater than 2.25 km/s, reducing the velocity of the impacting projectile to less than 1.5 km/s upon exiting the composite armor system. The composite armor system incorporates a structural framework that contains and constrains a geometrical structure of rigid rods with the void spaces between the rods filled with a particulate matrix material. Because the composite armor can incorporate naturally-occurring particulate matrix materials that are readily available, the armor can be transported with less bulk system weight, allowing for additional weight reduction in air or sea transport applications.

1 . A composite armor system, comprising:
 a particulate matrix material dispersed between a geometrical structure of rigid rods, said particulate matrix material and geometrical structure of rigid rods constrained within a structural framework.   
   
   
       2 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein the system is capable of reducing the velocity of a projectile impacting one side of said system from greater than 2.25 km/s to a velocity of the projectile exiting the other side of the system of less than 1.5 km/s. 
   
   
       3 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein the system is capable of reducing the velocity of a projectile impacting one side of said system from greater than 1.5 km/s to a velocity of the projectile exiting the other side of the system of less than 1.5 km/s. 
   
   
       4 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein the system is capable of reducing the velocity of a projectile impacting one side of said system from greater than 1.5 km/s to a velocity of the projectile exiting the other side of the system of less than 1.0 km/s. 
   
   
       5 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein said particulate matrix material comprises a geologically-based material. 
   
   
       6 . The composite armor system of  claim 5  wherein said particulate matrix material is sand. 
   
   
       7 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein said particulate matrix material has a density between 2.2 g/cm 3  and 3.1 g/cm 3 . 
   
   
       8 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein said particulate matrix material comprises a man-made material. 
   
   
       9 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein said particulate matrix material is self healing. 
   
   
       10 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein said structural framework is non-rigid and self-healing. 
   
   
       11 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein said structural framework is comprised of a material selected from a polycarbonate resin thermoplastic material, a thermoplastic ionomer resin, steel, copper and aluminum. 
   
   
       12 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein rigid rods are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic materials, high-density rubber, aluminum, steel, copper, iron and alloys thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The composite armor system of  claim 12  wherein the ceramic materials are selected from the group consisting of alumina, silicon carbine, zirconia, metal nitrides and metal titanates. 
   
   
       14 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein said geometrical structure of rigid rods comprise an aligned geometry. 
   
   
       15 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein said geometrical structure of rigid rods comprise an unaligned geometry. 
   
   
       16 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein said geometrical structure of rigid rods comprise rods with a cross-section selected from the group consisting of a circle, a triangle, a diamond, a rectangle, and higher-order polygons. 
   
   
       17 . The composite armor system of  claim 16  wherein said rigid rods have a diameter between 1.6 mm and 152.4 mm. 
   
   
       18 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein the volume of the rigid rods to the volume of the particulate matrix material is between 10% and 75%. 
   
   
       19 . The composite armor system of  claim 1  wherein the combination of the particulate matrix material and the geometrical structure of rigid rods has a density between 0.4 g/cm 3  and 1 g/cm 3 . 
   
   
       20 . A composite armor system, comprising:
 an arrangement of multiple rows or rigid rods within a sand material, said arrangement contained within a rigid structure with means for attaching said rigid structure to a vehicle.