Reshaping Projectiles to Improve Armor Protection

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an armor system includes one or more composite armor panels including one or more layers of fibers including a first fiber weave, such that a first directionality of one or more fibers of the first fiber weave is configurable to reshape a projectile based on one or more angles of the first directionality of the one or more fibers of the first fiber weave. The armor system also includes one or more composite armor panels comprising one or more layers of fibers including a second fiber weave, such that a second directionality of one or more fibers of the second fiber weave is configurable to reshape the projectile to a new shape based on one or more angles of the second directionality of the one or more fibers of the second fiber weave.

1 . An armor system comprising:
 one or more composite armor panels comprising one or more layers of fibers comprising a first fiber weave, wherein a first directionality of one or more fibers of the first fiber weave is configurable to reshape a projectile based on one or more angles of the first directionality of the one or more fibers of the first fiber weave; and   one or more composite armor panels comprising one or more layers of fibers comprising a second fiber weave, wherein a second directionality of one or more fibers of the second fiber weave is configurable to reshape the projectile to a new shape based on one or more angles of the second directionality of the one or more fibers of the second fiber weave, wherein the resistance to the projectile is increased as a result of the projectile breaking a portion of the one or more fibers of the second weave while the projectile is penetrating and reshaping.   
     
     
         2 . The armor system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fibers of the first fiber weave and the second fiber weave comprise aramid fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The armor system of  claim 1 , wherein a first composite armor panel of the one or more composite armor panels of the first fiber weave comprises a different type of fiber than a second composite armor panel of the one or more composite armor panels. 
     
     
         4 . The armor system of  claim 1 , further comprising an armor panel comprising a metal alloy. 
     
     
         5 . armor system of  claim 1 , wherein the new shape of the projectile is a rough polygon shape of eight or less sides. 
     
     
         6 . The armor system of  claim 1 , wherein the projectile is a shape charge, an explosively formed penetrator (EFP), an improvised explosive device (IED), a ballistic device or a hypervelocity impact. 
     
     
         7 . The armor system of  claim 1 , wherein the directionality of the second fiber weave is a quadraxial fiber weave. 
     
     
         8 . An armor system comprising:
 one or more composite armor panels comprising one or more layers of fibers comprising a first fiber weave, wherein a first directionality of one or more fibers of the first fiber weave is configurable to reshape a projectile penetrating the armor system based on one or more angles of the first directionality of the one or more fibers of the first fiber weave; and   one or more composite armor panels comprising one or more layers of fibers comprising a second fiber weave, wherein a second directionality of one or more fibers of the second fiber weave is a different directionality than the first directionality of the one or more fibers of the first fiber weave, the second directionality of the one or more fibers of the second fiber weave is configurable to reshape the projectile to a new shape based on one or more angles of the second directionality of the one or more fibers of the second fiber weave.   
     
     
         9 . The armor system of  claim 8 , wherein the resistance to the projectile is increased as a result of the projectile breaking a portion of the one or more fibers of the second weave while the projectile is penetrating and reshaping. 
     
     
         10 . The armor system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more fibers of the first fiber weave and the second fiber weave comprise aramid fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The armor system of  claim 8 , wherein a first composite armor panel of the one or more composite armor panels of the first fiber weave comprises a different type of fiber than a second composite armor panel of the one or more composite armor panels. 
     
     
         12 . The armor system of  claim 8 , further comprising an armor panel comprising a metal alloy. 
     
     
         13 . The armor system of  claim 8 , wherein the new shape of the projectile is a rough polygon shape of eight or less sides. 
     
     
         14 . The armor system of  claim 8 , wherein the projectile is a shape charge, an explosively formed penetrator (EFP), an improvised explosive device (IED), a ballistic device or a hypervelocity impact. 
     
     
         15 . The armor system of  claim 8 , wherein the directionality of the second fiber weave is a quadraxial fiber weave. 
     
     
         16 . An armored vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle having an armor system configurable to enhance resistance to a shape charge, an EFP, an IED, an ballistic device, an explosive device or a hypervelocity impact, the armor system comprising:
 one or more composite armor panels comprising one or more layers of fibers comprising a first fiber weave, wherein a first directionality of one or more fibers of the first fiber weave is configurable to reshape the shape charge, the EFP, the IED, the ballistic device, the explosive device or the hypervelocity impact penetrating the armor system based on one or more angles of the first directionality of the one or more fibers of the first fiber weave; and 
 one or more composite armor panels comprising one or more layers of fibers comprising a second fiber weave, wherein a second directionality of one or more fibers of the second fiber weave is a different directionality than the first directionality of the one or more fibers of the first fiber weave, the second directionality of the one or more fibers of the second fiber weave is configurable to reshape the shape charge, the EFP, the IED, the ballistic device, the explosive device or the hypervelocity impact to a new shape based on one or more angles of the second directionality of the one or more fibers of the second fiber weave. 
   
     
     
         17 . The armored vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the resistance to the shape charge, the EFP, the IED, the ballistic device, the explosive device or the hypervelocity impact is increased as a result of the shape charge, the EFP, the IED, the ballistic device, the explosive device or the hypervelocity impact breaking the one or more fibers of the second weave while the shape charge, the EFP, the IED, the ballistic device, the explosive device or the hypervelocity impact is penetrating and reshaping. 
     
     
         18 . The armored vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more fibers of the first fiber weave and the second fiber weave comprise aramid fibers. 
     
     
         19 . The armored vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein a first composite armor panel of the one or more composite armor panels of the first fiber weave comprises a different type of fiber than a second composite armor panel of the one or more composite armor panels. 
     
     
         20 . The armored vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the new shape of the shape charge, the EFP, the IED, the ballistic device, the explosive device or the hypervelocity impact is a rough polygon shape of eight or less sides.