Method and apparatus for the mitigation of explosively formed projectiles

Abstract

A multi step approach to mitigating the effects of explosively formed projectiles (EFPs). The first step involves a splitting step whereby the EFP total mass is reduced into fragments having smaller masses. The fragments are then exposed to cascading armored disks in preparation for a temperature reduction or “cooling” step. Heat is reduced by conduction through a cooling medium. Temperature reduction restores some solid properties to each fragment. The EFP fragments are slowed by exposure to a series of cascading armored disks designed to disperse contact pressures from any remaining fragments.

1 . An armor system, comprising:
 a pair of outer layers of armor plate, one of said pair of outer layers of armor plate configured to provide an outer front surface and the other of said pair of outer layers of armor plate configured to provide an outer rear surface, said pair of outer layers of armor plate defining a volume therebetween, said outer rear surface configured to be attached to an object to be provided with armor;   a splitter layer configured to receive an explosively formed projectile and configured to split said explosively formed projectile into a plurality of secondary projectiles, said splitter layer disposed within said volume between said pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent said one of said pair of outer layers of armor configured to provide said front surface;   a first layer of armored disks disposed within said volume between said pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent said splitter layer, said first layer of armored disks configured to receive at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles and configured to disperse an impact force of said at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles along a plurality of directions, said first layer of armored disks comprising at least two rows of overlapping disks;   a cooling layer disposed within said volume between said pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent said layer of armored disks, said cooling layer comprising a medium configured to absorb thermal energy from at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles and to reduce a temperature of said at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles; and   a second layer of armored disks disposed within said volume between said pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent said cooling layer, said second layer of armored disks configured to receive at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles and configured to disperse an impact force of said at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles along a plurality of directions, said second layer of armored disks comprising at least two rows of overlapping disks.   
     
     
         2 . The armor system of  claim 1 , wherein a layer of armored disks selected from the group consisting of said first layer of armored disks and said second layer of armored disks comprises circular disks. 
     
     
         3 . The armor system of  claim 2 , wherein said circular disks are configured in an overlapping square array. 
     
     
         4 . The armor system of  claim 2 , wherein said circular disks have a central aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The armor system of  claim 2 , wherein said circular disks are configured in an overlapping hexagonal array. 
     
     
         6 . The armor system of  claim 1 , wherein said cooling layer comprises a fibrous material immersed in a fluid medium. 
     
     
         7 . The armor system of  claim 6 , wherein said fluid medium comprises a rheopectic fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The armor system of  claim 1 , wherein said splitter layer comprises bars. 
     
     
         9 . The armor system of  claim 8 , wherein said splitter layer comprises a first plurality of parallel bars having a length dimension disposed in a first direction, and a second plurality of parallel bars having a length dimension disposed in a second direction not parallel to said first direction. 
     
     
         10 . The armor system of  claim 8 , wherein said bars are rolled bars. 
     
     
         11 . A method of mitigating the effects of an explosively formed projectile, comprising the steps of:
 splitting a mass of an explosively formed projectile into a plurality of secondary projectiles having a respective smaller mass than said mass of said explosively formed projectile;   cooling at least one of said plurality of secondary projectiles to a temperature below a temperature of said explosively formed projectile; and   slowing at least one of said plurality of secondary projectiles to a velocity below a hydrodynamic termination velocity;   thereby mitigating the effects of said explosively formed projectile on an object against which said explosively formed projectile is launched.