Perforated hull for vehicle blast shield

Abstract

A blast energy mitigation structure may employ a V-shaped hull to decrease the pressure wave imparted to a vehicle during a blast event, and/or an energy absorbing structure to absorb a portion of the blast force, thereby minimizing the forces and accelerations experienced by passengers in the vehicle and consequently reducing their injuries and increasing their survivability during a blast event. An exemplary blast energy mitigation structure may have a V-shaped hull and an energy absorbing structure incorporated into the chassis of a vehicle such as a Tactical Wheeled Vehicle, the energy absorbing structure comprising a truss-like structure including I-beams.

1 . A perforated blast mitigation hull for attachment to an underside of a truck for protection of an occupant against an improvised explosive device detonating from a roadway under the truck, the perforated blast mitigation hull comprising: 
 a substrate extending across the truck underside generally in the shape of a boat hull and including rocker panels in a raked orientation rising away from a center of the underside of the truck; and    perforations formed in said substrate;    wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to permit the substrate to hold a blast of a predetermined magnitude emanating from an improvised explosive device detonating from the roadway under the truck; and    wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to direct in a desired direction a blast from an improvised explosive device detonating from the roadway under the truck.    
   
   
       2 . The blast mitigation hull of  claim 1 , wherein the rocker panels are planar.  
   
   
       3 . The blast mitigation hull of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed in a modified “V” shape.  
   
   
       4 . A blast mitigation hull for attachment to an underside of a vehicle for protection of an occupant against an explosive device detonating under the vehicle, the blast mitigation hull comprising: 
 a substrate extending across the vehicle underside generally in the shape of a hull and including portions rising away from a center of the underside of the vehicle; and    perforations formed in the substrate;    wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to permit the substrate to hold a blast emanating from an explosive device detonating under the vehicle; and    wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to direct in a desired direction a blast from an explosive device detonating under the vehicle.    
   
   
       5 . The blast mitigation hull of  claim 4 , wherein the vehicle is a truck.  
   
   
       6 . The blast mitigation hull of  claim 4 , wherein the vehicle is a Tactical Wheeled Vehicle.  
   
   
       7 . The blast mitigation hull of  claim 4 , wherein the portions comprise rocker panels.  
   
   
       8 . The blast mitigation hull of  claim 7 , wherein the rocker panels are planar.  
   
   
       9 . The blast mitigation hull of  claim 4 , wherein the substrate is formed in a modified “V” shape.  
   
   
       10 . A method of protecting an occupant of a vehicle against an explosive device detonating under the vehicle, the method comprising: 
 providing a blast mitigation hull comprising: 
 a substrate extending across the vehicle underside generally in the shape of a hull and including portions rising away from a center of the underside of the vehicle, and  
 perforations formed in the substrate; and  
   attaching the blast mitigation hull to the underside of the vehicle;    wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to permit the substrate to hold a blast emanating from an explosive device detonating under the vehicle; and    wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to direct in a desired direction a blast from an explosive device detonating under the vehicle.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the vehicle is a truck.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the vehicle is a Tactical Wheeled Vehicle.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the portions comprise rocker panels.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the rocker panels are planar.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the substrate is formed in a modified “V” shape.