Armor protection against large explosive devices

Abstract

This invention provides, in some aspects, for devices and methods for protecting a sensitive structure against large explosive warhead containing weaponry, whereby a protective apparatus is positioned to be facing an anticipated impact direction at a spacing from said sensitive structure, wherein said apparatus detonates the weapon while absorbing the impact of the explosive warhead containing weaponry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for protecting a sensitive structure against explosive warhead containing weaponry, said apparatus comprising:
 a first layer constituting the immediate strike end configured for facing an anticipated impact direction, said first layer comprising a plurality of spiked outwardly protruding extensions arranged on a grid unit, which grid unit provides mutual support to components of the grid unit to restrict expansion of said spacing by an incoming explosive warhead containing weapon in contact therewith and provides reinforcing support for the spiked protrusions;   a middle slat or contoured profile layer that is angled so as to not be in the direction of the impact front produced by the impacting warhead, which middle grid or slat layer serves to dissipate or disperse gas generated by the impacting warhead; and   a third protection layer comprising composite armor plates, which absorb the impact of the incoming warhead;   
       wherein said first layer is positioned at a distance of at least 1.5 meters in placement from said third protection layer; and 
       wherein said apparatus is positioned to be facing an anticipated impact direction at a spacing from said sensitive structure and reduces the impact of said explosive warhead containing weaponry at least in part, or reduces the detonation capability of the warhead, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spiked outwardly protruding extensions, grid unit, slats or contoured profiles, or a combination thereof are composed of various materials selected from the group consisting of: metals, ceramics, composites, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said spiked outwardly protruding extensions may vary in terms of number, spacing, periodicity, angle, length, shape or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said grid unit, slats or contoured profiles, or a combination thereof are of various cross sections. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said grid unit, slats or contoured profiles, or a combination thereof are of various shapes selected from the group consisting of: rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, ovals, and cylinders. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein grid unit, slats or contoured profiles, or a combination thereof further comprise cross-attachment members attached by methods selected from the group consisting of: tying, wrapping, braiding, gluing, welding, adhesion, fasteners, screws, nubs, clips, bands, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said composite armor plates in said third protection layer may comprise:
 i) a layer of a plurality of high density alumina ceramic bodies, each of said bodies being substantially cylindrical in shape, with at least one convexly curved end face, and each of said bodies having a major axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of its respective curved end face, wherein the ratio D/R between the diameter D of each of said cylindrical bodies and the radius R of curvature of the respectively convexly curved end face of each of said bodies is at least 0.64:1, and wherein said bodies are arranged in a plurality of adjacent rows and columns, the major axis of said bodies being in substantially parallel orientation with each other and substantially perpendicular to an adjacent surface of said panel; or   ii) a single internal layer of pellets made of ceramic material disposed in a plurality of spaced-apart rows and columns, which are bound and retained in plate form by an elastic material; a majority of said pellets having at least one convexly curved end face; an outer impact receiving major surface defined by said convexly curved end faces of said pellets for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy from high-velocity projectiles; said convexly curved end faces of said pellets receiving impact from high-velocity projectiles and absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy therefrom; said pellets having a substantially regular polygonal outer surface with the corners of the polygon being eliminated to form rounded corners; a majority of each of said pellets being in direct contact with six adjacent pellets in the same layer to provide mutual lateral confinement there between to trap said high-velocity projectiles; a valley space being defined between three adjacent pellets, said valley space being substantially smaller than a valley space defined by three cylindrical pellets having a diameter the same as said polygonal pellets with rounded corners; and a plurality of said pellets defining an opening extending into said pellet from a surface opposite to said outer impact receiving convexly cured end face of said pellet to reduce the weight per area thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one of the first and second end faces of said ceramic pellets is disposed substantially opposite to the outer impact receiving major surface and is spherical. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one of the first and second end faces of said ceramic pellets is disposed opposite said impact receiving major surface and is convexly curved and wherein a ratio D/R between the diameter of the body and a radius of curvature of the one of the first and second end faces disposed opposite said outer impact receiving major surface is between about 0.28:1 and 0.639:1. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one of the first and second end faces of said ceramic pellets disposed substantially opposite to the outer impact receiving major surface is in a form of an outwardly tapered truncated cone. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein a majority of said pellets have at least one convexly-curved end face oriented to substantially face in a direction of the outer impact receiving major surface. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said pellets have at least one axis of at least 9 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said pellets have at least one axis of at least 20 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of said pellets is formed of a ceramic material selected from the group consisting of sintered oxide, nitrides, carbides and borides of alumina, magnesium, zirconium, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium and silica. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of said pellets is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, boron carbide, boron nitride, titanium diboride, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, magnesium oxide, silicon aluminum oxynitride and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of said pellets have a channel extending inwardly from said one of the first and second end faces disposed opposite said outer impact receiving major surface to reduce the weight per area thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said target in need of protection against explosive warhead containing weaponry is a bridge, a communications structure or plant, a building, a reactor or other sensitive stationary target. 
     
     
         18 . A method of protecting a target against explosive warhead containing weaponry, said method comprising providing the apparatus of  claim 1  positioned to be facing an anticipated impact direction at a spacing from said target in need of protection. 
     
     
         19 . A method of protecting a bridge against explosive warhead containing weaponry, said method comprising providing the apparatus of  claim 1  positioned to be facing an anticipated impact direction at a spacing from said bridge, wherein said apparatus absorbs the impact of said explosive warhead containing weaponry. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said apparatus is supported on a framework that is independently secured and does not rely on load bearing supports of said bridge.