Blast mitigation system for military vehicles

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method to both reduce a degree of explosive shock waves and to absorb a degree of explosive blast energy from the undercarriage of a vehicle which comprises the use of one or more layers of rigid closed-cell spray polyurethane foam, applied to the armored undercarriage of the vehicle. This invention combines two key aspects: 1) blast suppression or mitigation materials that absorb energy and 2) traditional military hardened armor solutions. The effectiveness of spray applied rigid foam has been proven to both dramatically reduce shock waves and absorb energy from explosive blasts (e.g., IEDs).

1 . A system to help dissipate explosive blast wave to the undercarriage of a vehicle comprising one or more layers of rigid closed-cell spray polyurethane foam applied to the undercarriage of the vehicle. 
     
     
         2 . A system to partially absorb explosive blast energy at the undercarriage of a vehicle comprising one or more layers of rigid closed-cell spray polyurethane foam applied to the undercarriage of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . A system to both help dissipate explosive shock waves and to partially absorb explosive blast energy from the undercarriage of a vehicle comprising one or more layers of rigid closed-cell spray polyurethane foam applied to the undercarriage of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claims 1 - 3 , wherein the vehicle is a military vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the undercarriage of the vehicle comprises a factory installed V-hull design. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about one inch, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about two inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about three inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about four inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about five inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about six inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the undercarriage of the vehicle comprises a bolt-on V-hull design. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about one inch, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about two inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about three inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about four inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about five inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about six inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the undercarriage of the vehicle comprises a flat bottom design. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about one inch, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about two inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about three inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about four inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about five inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thickness of the foam is at least about six inches, applied as one or more individual layers. 
     
     
         26 . A method of providing a degree of explosive blast shock mitigation to the occupants of a vehicle comprising adding one or more layers of rigid closed-cell spray polyurethane foam to the undercarriage of the vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . A method of providing a degree of explosive blast mitigation to the occupants of a vehicle comprising adding one or more layers of rigid closed-cell spray polyurethane foam to the undercarriage of the vehicle. 
     
     
         28 . A method of providing a degree of both explosive shock wave mitigation and explosive blast energy mitigation to the occupants of a vehicle comprising adding one or more layers of rigid closed-cell spray polyurethane foam to the undercarriage of the vehicle. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claims 26 - 28 , wherein the vehicle is a military vehicle. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the undercarriage of the vehicle comprises a factory installed V-hull design. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the undercarriage of the vehicle comprises a bolt-on V-hull design. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the undercarriage of the vehicle comprises a flat bottom design.