ARMOR AS A SYSTEM: MULTI-THREAT MITIGATION BY OPTIMAL DESIGN OF NANOARCHITECTED COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Abstract
The overarching goal of this program is to develop, fabricate, characterize (both statically and dynamically) and optimize micro/nan"o~architected ceramic/metal and ceramic/polymer composites for blast and ballistic protection.Current armor systems are primarily d"esigned to mitigate two threats: blast and penetration, both possibly occurring over a wide range of intensity and projectile speed" and size. A successful armor dissipates the kinetic energy of the blast or projectile via plastic deformation while resisting penet"ration, all while maintaining the stress level on the protected size within acceptable limits. As no single material exists that can"" be simultaneously optimized for all these requirements, modern armors are complex multifunctional structures, generally composed of" different materials bonded to each other. The need to minimize weight while maintaining appropriate levels of protection is a key d"river, in both body and vehicle armor.A holistic approach to armor design, i.e., an ~armor as a system~ vision, could potentially r""esult in significant weight saving, by simultaneously optimizing a single functionally~graded structure to meet all design criteria."" Practical implementation of this vision is very challenging, though, requiring careful mixing of two or more materials, with accura""te control of the phase topologies, across multiple scales (from the micro/nano~scale of the phase intertwining to the armor structu""re scale). This approach is particularly timely, as recent progress in advanced manufacturing has provided new exciting avenues for"" fabrication of topologically complex multi~material composites, with two or more phases intimately and precisely intertwined at the" micro and nano~scale.Here we propose to leverage these novel fabrication opportunities to develop a multifunctional ceramic/metal and ceramic/polymer armor system that is simultaneously optimized for energy absorption and penetration resistance. We will develop novel fabrication approaches for ceramic/metal and ceramic/polymer composites with desired phase topologies; we will characterize o"ur compositesmicrostructurally and mechanically, both under quasi~static and dynamic conditions, to assess their performance in ter"ms of energy absorption and resistance to penetration; we will use the experimental results to calibrate and validate existing computational models that will allow us to explore a very wide design space; we will combine these models with optimization tools to desi"gn the optimal functionally graded multifunctional armor system. As an optional task at the end of the program, we will explore the" potential benefit of introducing porosity in the system (in a topologically controlled way) as a way to further tune mechanical properties and density.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 29, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141712874
Entities
People
- Lorenzo Valdevit
Organizations
- Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy