Hybrid periodic cellular material structures, systems, and methods for blast and ballistic protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9921037-B2
Application number	US-67341808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2008
Priority date	Aug 16, 2007
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

Structures based upon periodic cellular materials that provide a potential for defeating combinations of both air blast loading and ballistic attack either sequentially or simultaneously, or combination of both. The cellular structures may also be configured to meet the stiffness and strength support requirements of particular vehicle or other applications, systems or structures. The armor is therefore potentially able to support normal service loads and defeat blast and ballistic threats when necessary. The structure provides for using efficient load support capabilities of the material (without a high armor protection level) in low threat conditions, as well as the ability to modify the system to increase its level protection to a desired or required level. This would reduce the weight of the protection system in normal (low threat) conditions which reduces vehicle wear and tear, as well as cost savings in fabrication of applicable structures or systems.

First claim

We claim:

1. A sandwich structure for supporting loads, mitigating blast pressure, and resisting projectile penetration, said structure comprising:
a) a core, wherein said core comprises:
a first open-cell lattice structure layer,
a second open-cell lattice structure layer, and
an intermediate panel disposed between said first open-cell lattice structure layer and said second open-cell lattice structure layer;

b) a first layer panel in mechanical communication with said first open-cell lattice structure layer distal from said second open-cell lattice structure layer;
c) a second layer panel in mechanical communication with said second open-cell lattice structure layer distal from said first open-cell lattice structure layer;
d) a plurality of elongated interstitial housings that continuously span across a full length of at least one of said first open-cell lattice structure or said second open-cell lattice structure, wherein said interstitial housings conform to voids in said open cells of said open-cell lattice structures such that said interstitial housings substantially fill said voids, and wherein said plurality of elongated interstitial housings are arranged to be in parallel with each other; and
e) a filler portion disposed in any spaces between said interstitial housings and open cells of said open-cell lattice structures; and in voids created by said open cells of said open-cell lattice structures.

2. The sandwich structure of claim 1 further comprising a first ballistic substrate in mechanical communication with said second open-cell lattice structure layer on a side thereof proximal to said first open-cell lattice structure layer.

3. The sandwich structure of claim 2 , further comprising a second ballistic substrate in mechanical communication with said intermediate panel on a side thereof proximal to said second open-cell lattice structure layer.

4. The sandwich structure of claim 1 , further comprising a first ballistic substrate in mechanical communication with said first open-cell lattice structure layer on a side thereof proximal to said second open-cell lattice structure layer.

5. The sandwich structure of claim 4 , further comprising a second ballistic substrate in mechanical communication with said intermediate panel on a side thereof proximal to said first open-cell lattice structure layer.

6. The sandwich structure of claim 4 , wherein said first ballistic substrate comprises at least one of an aramid fabric, a ballistic fabric, or a combination thereof.

7. The sandwich structure of claim 4 , wherein said first ballistic substrate comprises ceramic-fiber reinforced material.

8. The sandwich structure of claim 7 , wherein said ceramic-fiber reinforced material comprises at least one of: S-2 or SiC fibers, or a combination thereof.

9. The sandwich structure of claim 4 , wherein said first ballistic substrate comprises polymer-fiber reinforced material.

10. The sandwich structure of claim 9 , wherein said polymer-fiber reinforce material comprises at least one of: polyethylene, polypropylene or a combination thereof.

11. The sandwich structure of claim 4 , wherein said first ballistic substrate comprises metallic material.

12. The sandwich structure of claim 11 , wherein said metallic material comprises at least one of: titanium boride, an advanced metal harder than conventional roll hardened steel, or a combination thereof.

13. The sandwich structure of claim 1 , further comprising a second ballistic protection layer in mechanical communication with said second open-cell lattice structure layer on a side thereof distal from to said first open-cell lattice structure layer.

14. The sandwich structure of claim 13 , wherein said second ballistic protection layer comprises:
at least one of a piezoelectric active damper device and a piezoelectric power generation device.

15. The sandwich structure of claim 13 , wherein said second ballistic protection layer comprises at least one of an aramid fabric, a ballistic fabric, or a combination thereof.

16. The sandwich structure of claim 13 , wherein said second ballistic protection layer comprises ceramic-fiber reinforced material.

17. The sandwich structure of claim 7 , wherein said ceramic-fiber reinforced material comprises at least one of: S-2 or SiC fibers, or a combination thereof.

18. The sandwich structure of claim 13 , wherein said second ballistic protection layer comprises polymer-fiber reinforced material.

19. The sandwich structure of claim 9 , wherein said polymer-fiber reinforce material comprises at least one of: polyethylene, polypropylene or a combination thereof.

20. The sandwich structure of claim 13 , wherein said second ballistic protection layer comprises metallic material.

21. The sandwich structure of claim 11 , wherein said metallic material comprises at least one of: titanium boride, an advanced metal harder than conventional roll hardened steel, or a combination thereof.

22. The sandwich structure of claim 1 , further comprising a first ballistic protection layer in mechanical communication with said first open-cell lattice structure layer on a side thereof distal from to said second open-cell lattice structure layer.

23. The sandwich structure of claim 22 , wherein said first ballistic protection layer comprises:
at least one of a piezoelectric active damper device and eF piezoelectric power generation device.

24. The sandwich structure of claim 22 , wherein said first ballistic protection layer comprises an aramid fiber.

25. The sandwich structure of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of interstitial housings further comprise an encasement at least partially surrounding said housings.

26. The sandwich structure of claim 1 , wherein said open-cell lattice structure is at least one of the following honeycomb type structures: hexagonal cell, square cell, cylindrical, and triangular cell or any combination thereof.

27. The sandwich structure of claim 1 , wherein said open-cell lattice structure is at least one of the following corrugation type structures: triangular, diamond, multi-layered, flat-top corrugation arrangements, or any combination thereof.

28. The sandwich structure of claim 1 , wherein said open-cell lattice structure is at least one of the following truss arrangements: tetrahedral, pyramidal, three-dimensional Kagome or any combination thereof.

29. The sandwich structure of claim 1 , wherein said open-cell lattice structure is at least one of a textile weave structure, a woven wire mesh, a multilayer textile weave structure or any combination thereof.

30. The sandwich structure of claim 1 , wherein said interstitial housings is at least one of the following: a prism, a rod, a block, a cylinder, a three-dimensional structure, or any combination thereof.

31. The sandwich structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said interstitial housings is at least one of the following: battery, electronic component, heat transfer element, computer component, or a combination thereof.

32. The sandwich structure of claim 1 , wherein said sandwich structure comprises at least one of:
an architectural structure,
a civil engineering field structure, a military security/protection/defense structure,
a machine structure,
an automobile structure,
a ship structure,
a freight car structu

Assignees

• Wadley Haydn N G
• Murty Yellapu V
• Jones Tyrone
• Gupta Rahul
• Burkins Matthew
• Univ Virginia Patent Foundation

Inventors

• Wadley Haydn N G
• Murty Yellapu V
• Jones Tyrone
• Gupta Rahul
• Burkins Matthew

Classifications

• F41H5/023 Primary

  Armour plate, or auxiliary armour plate mounted at a distance of the main armour plate, having cavities at its outer impact surface, or holes, for deflecting the projectile · CPC title

• B32B3/12

  characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure · CPC title

• B32B5/02

  characterised by structural features of a {fibrous or filamentary} layer {(layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02)} · CPC title

• B32B15/04

  comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, {which is} next to another layer of {the same or of} a {different material (next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/08; next to a water-setting substance layer B32B13/06; next to a glass layer B32B17/061; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/042)} · CPC title

• F41H5/0471

  Layered armour containing fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers (in combination with ceramic layers F41H5/0428, with metal layers F41H5/0457) · CPC title