Novel Approaches to Blast Protection in Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Armoured fighting vehicles are exposed to a variety of blast threats in modern warfare. Crew protection against such
threats is vital and is typically provided by a mine protection system attached to the lower section of the hull. However,
whilst such structures provide protection, they are not weight efficient. Moreover, they are not optimised for
management and attenuation of the transmitted shock wave. Currently, typical mine protection systems comprise 10% of
the total vehicle weight but this would need to increase to deal with emerging threats, with a negative impact on
manoeuvrability, fuel efficiency and reliability of the vehicle. Therefore, alternative solutions are sought that provide
higher mass efficiency by utilising energy absorbing materials and structures in the mine protection systems.
During the previous undergraduate level projects, a number of questions could not be answered from the literature, and
therefore provide novelty within the scope of the PhD Programme. Some examples will include:
Understanding the energy ratios and timescales involved between a sand slug and its associated shock wave; hull
protection from the sand slug and the shock wave, and the extent to which the shock wave damages the hull before the
impact of the sand slug, and mechanisms for protection of the hull using the proposed novel techniques.
The proposed research would initially build a sophisticated model of a whole vehicle that would allow modifications to be
made and subsequently tested using modelling software such as LS Dyna. We already have experience of working on this
through a current undergraduate "group industrial project."
The developed model would then be used to test a wide range of possible novel blast mitigation and protection options,
as investigated from the literature during the undergraduate group project in 2013/14. A number of techniques have
shown promise in theory (particularly, but not limited to, those involving the use of water), and the model could be
developed and utilised to test for practical feasibility. As the project progresses, protection systems that appear effective
via modelling could be tested practically, initially on a small scale, with the scope to move to full scale testing, with the
support of BAE Systems (CVUK).
threats is vital and is typically provided by a mine protection system attached to the lower section of the hull. However,
whilst such structures provide protection, they are not weight efficient. Moreover, they are not optimised for
management and attenuation of the transmitted shock wave. Currently, typical mine protection systems comprise 10% of
the total vehicle weight but this would need to increase to deal with emerging threats, with a negative impact on
manoeuvrability, fuel efficiency and reliability of the vehicle. Therefore, alternative solutions are sought that provide
higher mass efficiency by utilising energy absorbing materials and structures in the mine protection systems.
During the previous undergraduate level projects, a number of questions could not be answered from the literature, and
therefore provide novelty within the scope of the PhD Programme. Some examples will include:
Understanding the energy ratios and timescales involved between a sand slug and its associated shock wave; hull
protection from the sand slug and the shock wave, and the extent to which the shock wave damages the hull before the
impact of the sand slug, and mechanisms for protection of the hull using the proposed novel techniques.
The proposed research would initially build a sophisticated model of a whole vehicle that would allow modifications to be
made and subsequently tested using modelling software such as LS Dyna. We already have experience of working on this
through a current undergraduate "group industrial project."
The developed model would then be used to test a wide range of possible novel blast mitigation and protection options,
as investigated from the literature during the undergraduate group project in 2013/14. A number of techniques have
shown promise in theory (particularly, but not limited to, those involving the use of water), and the model could be
developed and utilised to test for practical feasibility. As the project progresses, protection systems that appear effective
via modelling could be tested practically, initially on a small scale, with the scope to move to full scale testing, with the
support of BAE Systems (CVUK).
People |
ORCID iD |
| Benjamin Varcoe (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Joseph Wilson (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509243/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/12/2021 | |||
| 1724194 | Studentship | EP/N509243/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/09/2019 | Joseph Wilson |
| Description | It has been determined that an approach to blast protection in which a perforated plate is interposed between the underside of an armoured vehicle and a detonating landmine or IED is an effective means of mitigating the impact of the blast on the vehicle. |
| Exploitation Route | There are immediate commercial and military advantages to this research for defence manufacturers. Furthermore, these findings provide an avenue of investigation for improvement to a perforated plate type defensive scheme. Details of suggested improvements are included in the thesis that describes this work in full. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine |