Blast mitigation

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for mitigation of the effects associated with both blast and shrapnel. The mitigating apparatus is designed with alternating layers of blast mitigating substance, preferably liquid or hydrophilic gel or other viscous fluid, and anti-ballistic substance, preferably a textile, to treat both the air shock wave and the bomb-generated fragmentation and shrapnel, which originate from a detonation or explosion.

1 . An apparatus for blast mitigation of an explosive charge, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one layer of blast mitigating substance contained by a frangible mantle, said blast mitigating substance including a hydrophilic gel;   at least one layer of anti-ballistic substance disposed adjacent said mantle;   said layers of blast mitigating substance and of anti-ballistic substance being adapted and constructed for placement in proximity to the explosive charge so as to absorb both blast and shrapnel from said charge.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said layers of blast mitigating substance and anti-ballistic substance are concentric annular layers. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said layer of blast mitigating substance comprises at least one modular unit adapted and configured for coupling to another modular unit, said anti-ballistic substance being disposed adjacent at least part of said at least one modular unit. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of said modular units coupled to one another to form a safety screen element. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said layer of blast mitigating substance includes a plurality of interconnected compartments. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising at least two layers of blast mitigating substance in a frangible mantle, alternating with at least two layers of an anti-ballistic substance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said at least two layers of anti-ballistic substance have different anti-ballistic characteristics. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a top layer of blast mitigating substance in a frangible mantle. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising at least one top layer of anti-ballistic substance disposed on top of said top layer of blast mitigating substance. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein gel powder is disposed in said mantle for formation on site of hydrated gel by the addition of water. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said blast mitigating substance is a viscous liquid. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one filling element for each said layer of blast mitigating substance. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said anti-ballistic substance is selected from the group consisting of Polyamide-type material, Aramid-type material, High Performance Polyethylene (HPPE) and Kevlar®. 
     
     
         14 . A method of forming an apparatus for blast mitigation of an explosive charge, the method comprising:
 providing at least one layer of blast mitigating substance contained by a frangible mantle, said blast mitigating substance including a hydrophilic gel; and   disposing at least one layer of anti-ballistic substance adjacent said mantle;   said layers of blast mitigating substance and of anti-ballistic substance being adapted and constructed for placement in proximity to an explosive charge so as to absorb both blast and shrapnel from said charge.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of adding said blast mitigating substance after placement. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising providing said gel in powder form in said mantle for filling with liquid on site to form a hydrated gel. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising arranging alternating layers of blast mitigating fluid in a frangible mantle, and anti-ballistic substance, for placement adjacent an explosive charge so as to absorb both blast and shrapnel from said charge. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said layers of the anti-ballistic substance have different anti-ballistic characteristics. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said anti-ballistic substance is selected from the group consisting of Polyamide-type material, Aramid-type material, High Performance Polyethylene (HPPE) and Kevlar®. 
     
     
         20 . A method for mitigation of effects of a blast of a charge, the method comprising: alternately disposing, adjacent the charge, layers substantially for shock wave absorption and layers for mitigation of shrapnel dispersion, wherein said layers substantially for shock wave absorption include a hydrophilic gel.