Lightweight impact resistant panel

Abstract

A Hollow lightweight panel made of high tensile strength rigid material. The panel comprises multiple parallel elongated cavities. The cavities are sealed and pressurized with gas. The gas pressure acts to resist any deformation of the panel and thereby reinforces and stabilizes the structure. The panel is suitable for use as structural element in aircraft, spacecraft and road vehicles. The panel is especially effective as armor element, as a lightweight backing for hard layers and as rigid under belly and side panels where required to be resistant to bomb and mine blasts.

1 . A lightweight impact resistant panel comprising;
 a) Two peripheral skin surfaces made of high tensile strength material, and   b) a lightweight core structure is disposed between the two skin surfaces, and attached to the skin surfaces, wherein   c) the core comprises a pattern of sealed fluid pressurized cavities containing a fluid, and   d) whereby the pressure in the cavities increases the stability of the structure against buckling, and makes the structure more resistant to impact.   
     
     
         2 . A lightweight impact resistant panel comprising;
 a) Two peripheral skin surfaces made of high tensile strength material, and   b) a lightweight core structure is disposed between the two skin surfaces, and attached to the skin surfaces, and,   c) the core comprises a pattern of sealed cavities, and   d) the cavities are filled with an incompressible fluid, and   e) wherein the panel's cavities self pressurize when the panel is subjected to Impact, whereby the pressure in the cavities increases the stability of the structure against buckling, and makes the structure more resistant to impact.   
     
     
         3 . A lightweight impact resistant panel according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid is a gas. 
     
     
         4 . A lightweight impact resistant panel according to  claim 1  wherein the panel is comprised in an anti ballistic armor arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . A lightweight impact resistant panel according to  claim 1  wherein the panel is comprised in a vehicle structural body arrangement. 
     
     
         6 . A lightweight impact resistant panel according to  claim 1  wherein the panel's core and peripheral surfaces is formed by metal extrusion and are of a constant sectional shape. 
     
     
         7 . A lightweight impact resistant panel according to  claims 1 , wherein the panel's core and peripheral surfaces is formed by FRP pultrusion, and are of a constant sectional shape. 
     
     
         8 . A lightweight impact resistant panel according to  claim 6 , wherein the panel comprises self sealing means. 
     
     
         9 . A lightweight impact resistant panel according to  claim 7 , wherein the panel comprises self sealing means. 
     
     
         10 . The lightweight resistant panel of any  claims 1  wherein the cavities comprise valves for pressurizing.