The goal of this STTR Phase I program is to develop lightweight and volumetrically-efficient structures that can be applied to the underbody and sides of lightweight tactical vehicles such as the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) or Mine-Resistant Ambush Vehicle (MRAP). The design will meet the weight goal to be less than 10 lb/ft2, and to reduce the amount of blast impulse or blast energy transmitted to the crew compartment by at least 30 percent compared to a monolithic metallic armor plate with the same areal density. The design success will be proved through laboratory blast tests.
Benefit: This STTR will yield a quantitative set of design guidelines and models that can be applied to the design of other military combat vehicles or civilian non-combat vehicles which might need to add ballistic armor or blast protection products to the vehicles. Additionally, the STTR Phase I results will be beneficial to both the automotive and aerospace industries, due to increased use of innovative materials for ballistic and blast protection in both industries.
Keywords: armor, armor, blast mitigation, Blast Protection, Road side bomb, impulse mitigation, lightweight tactical vehicle., mine blast, Blast
