Overpressure wave absorption

Abstract

Overpressure absorbing material is positioned on the exterior of an enclosure. When an explosion occurs adjacent the enclosure, the overpressure absorbing material absorbs a large portion of an incoming overpressure wave from the explosion. The overpressure absorbing material cushions the impact of the overpressure wave against the enclosure and may prevent the incoming overpressure wave from penetrating the enclosure in sufficient magnitude to cause injury to the enclosure's occupants. The overpressure absorbing material may also be positioned on the interior of the enclosure. The overpressure wave from the explosion may enter the enclosure via a breach or other opening and may resonate within the enclosure, causing injury to the enclosure's occupants. The interior overpressure absorbing material also prevents a significant magnitude of the overpressure wave from being reflected off the interior walls of the enclosure, resonating within the enclosure, and causing injury to the enclosure's occupants.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An overpressure wave absorbing system comprising:
 a first deflectable planar layer with a first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein, wherein the first deflectable planar layer has substantially greater than fifty percent planar surface area from which the first matrix of deflectable protrusions protrude, and wherein the overpressure wave absorbing system is configured to absorb a portion of an incoming overpressure wave by deflecting in response to the overpressure wave.   
     
     
         2 . The overpressure wave absorbing system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second deflectable planar layer with a second matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein, wherein the second deflectable planar layer has substantially greater than fifty percent planar surface area from which the second matrix of deflectable protrusions protrude, and wherein at least one deflectable protrusion of the second matrix of deflectable protrusions is attached to an opposing deflectable protrusion of the first matrix of deflectable protrusions.   
     
     
         3 . The overpressure wave absorbing system of  claim 1 , further configured to reduce a magnitude of the overpressure wave incident on a protective layer oriented on a side of the overpressure wave absorbing system opposite the incoming overpressure wave. 
     
     
         4 . The overpressure wave absorbing system of  claim 1 , further configured to reduce a magnitude of the overpressure wave reflected from a protective layer oriented on a side of the overpressure wave absorbing system opposite the incoming overpressure wave. 
     
     
         5 . The overpressure wave absorbing system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a protective layer attached to the first deflectable planar layer.   
     
     
         6 . The overpressure wave absorbing system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a protective layer offset a distance from the first deflectable planar layer.   
     
     
         7 . The overpressure wave absorbing system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the overpressure wave incident on a protective layer oriented on a side of the overpressure wave absorbing system opposite the incoming overpressure wave is reduced by at least twenty percent. 
     
     
         8 . The overpressure wave absorbing system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a protective layer oriented adjacent the overpressure wave absorbing system on a side opposite the incoming overpressure wave.   
     
     
         9 . The overpressure wave absorbing system of  claim 8 , wherein the protective layer is one or more of armor on an armored vehicle, body armor on an individual, a wall of a fixed structure, an individual's skin, and a wall of a partially-sealed enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The overpressure wave absorbing system of  claim 1 , wherein the deflectable protrusions protruding from the first deflectable planar layer have a height to diameter ratio of greater than about 2:1. 
     
     
         11 . A method of absorbing an overpressure wave comprising:
 placing a first deflectable planar layer with a first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein between a protective layer and an expected source of an incoming overpressure wave, wherein the first deflectable planar layer has substantially greater than fifty percent planar surface area from which the first matrix of deflectable protrusions protrude, and wherein the first deflectable planar layer with the first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein is configured to absorb a portion of an incoming overpressure wave by deflecting in response to the overpressure wave.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 placing a second deflectable planar layer with a second matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein adjacent the first deflectable planar layer with the first matrix of deflectable protrusion formed therein, wherein the second deflectable planar layer has substantially greater than fifty percent planar surface area from which the first matrix of deflectable protrusions protrude, and wherein at least one deflectable protrusion of the second matrix of deflectable protrusions is attached to an opposing deflectable protrusion of the first matrix of deflectable protrusions.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first deflectable planar layer with the first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein is further configured to reduce a magnitude of the overpressure wave incident on a protective layer oriented on a side of the overpressure wave absorbing system opposite the incoming overpressure wave. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first deflectable planar layer with the first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein is further configured to reduce a magnitude of the overpressure wave reflected from a protective layer oriented on a side of the overpressure wave absorbing system opposite the incoming overpressure wave. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 attaching a protective layer to the first deflectable planar layer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 attaching a protective layer an offset distance from the first deflectable planar layer.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the magnitude of the overpressure wave incident on a protective layer oriented on a side of the first deflectable planar layer with the first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein opposite the incoming overpressure wave is reduced by at least twenty percent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 orienting a protective layer adjacent the first deflectable planar layer with the first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein on a side opposite the incoming overpressure wave.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the protective layer is one or more of armor on an armored vehicle, body armor on an individual, a wall of a fixed structure, an individual's skin, and a wall of a partially-sealed enclosure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the deflectable protrusions protruding from the first deflectable planar layer have a height to diameter ratio of greater than about 2:1. 
     
     
         21 . An overpressure wave absorbing system comprising:
 a first deflectable planar layer with a first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein, wherein the first deflectable planar layer has substantially greater than fifty percent planar surface area from which the first matrix of deflectable protrusions protrude; and   a second deflectable planar layer with a second matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein, wherein the second deflectable planar layer has substantially greater than fifty percent planar surface area from which the second matrix of deflectable protrusions protrude, wherein at least one deflectable protrusion of the second matrix of deflectable protrusions is attached to an opposing deflectable protrusion of the first matrix of deflectable protrusions, and wherein the overpressure wave absorbing system is configured to absorb a portion of an incoming overpressure wave by deflecting in response to the overpressure wave.