Novel Ceramic Tile Designs for Armor

Abstract

A ceramic-containing armor tile exhibiting anisotropy exhibits different anti-ballistic performance compared to a uniform, isotropic tile. The ballistic performance has been quantified, and the results suggest that design can be optimized for even greater performance.

1 . A tile for an armor system for use against ballistic projectiles, the tile comprising:
 (a) a ceramic-containing material;   (b) a front face and a rear face; and   (c) a plurality of holes that are not open to the front face.   
     
     
         2 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said holes are open to said rear face. 
     
     
         3 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein said holes are spherical. 
     
     
         4 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein said holes are cylindrical. 
     
     
         5 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein said holes are conical. 
     
     
         6 . The tile of  claim 5 , wherein said conical holes define a cone in cross-section, and further wherein a base of said cone is located at said rear face. 
     
     
         7 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein said holes taper toward the front face. 
     
     
         8 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein said front face is flat. 
     
     
         9 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein said front face is not flat. 
     
     
         10 . The tile of  claim 9 , further comprising projections that extend outward from said front face. 
     
     
         11 . The tile of  claim 10 , wherein said projections comprise mounds, bumps or knobs. 
     
     
         12 . A tile for an armor system for use against ballistic projectiles, the tile comprising:
 (a) a ceramic-containing material;   (b) a front face featuring anisotropy; and   (c) a plurality of blind holes.   
     
     
         13 . A tile for an armor system for use against ballistic projectiles, the tile comprising:
 (a) a ceramic-containing material;   (b) a front face and a rear face, the rear face being arranged to reflect shock waves away from direct impingement on the front face during ballistic impact of a projectile onto said front face.   
     
     
         14 . A tile for an armor system for use against ballistic projectiles, the tile comprising:
 (a) a ceramic-containing material; and   (b) a front face and a rear face, the front face featuring anisotropy.