초록 ▼

A typical inventive embodiment describes a tubular shape and comprises a rigid outer layer, an elastomeric middle layer and a rigid inner layer. The elastomeric material is a strain-rate-sensitive polymer (e.g., polyurethane or polyurea) having a Young's modulus of approximately 700-1000 psi at 100%

A typical inventive embodiment describes a tubular shape and comprises a rigid outer layer, an elastomeric middle layer and a rigid inner layer. The elastomeric material is a strain-rate-sensitive polymer (e.g., polyurethane or polyurea) having a Young's modulus of approximately 700-1000 psi at 100% strain, and strong strain-rate-sensitivity in approximately the 103/second-106/second range. By the time that the projectile reaches the rigid inner layer, a projectile that impacts the three-layer system (commencing at the rigid outer layer) is structurally and kinetically diminished in its destructiveness by the rigid outer layer together with the elastomeric middle layer. Furthermore, the elastomeric middle layer becomes more rigid during a brief period in which it absorbs energy from the projectile, then again becomes elastic in a manner formative of a membrane covering the rigid inner layer. The elastomeric membrane tempers leakage if rupturing of the rigid inner layer has occurred.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A laminar composite structure comprising three adjacent layers, said three adjacent layers being a structural first layer, a highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer and a structural third layer, said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer confined

What is claimed is: 1. A laminar composite structure comprising three adjacent layers, said three adjacent layers being a structural first layer, a highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer and a structural third layer, said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer confined between said structural first layer and said structural third layer, said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer made of an elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurea and a mixture thereof and characterized by a Young's modulus in the range of approximately 700-1000 psi at 100% strain, said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric intermediate layer further characterized by high strain-rate-sensitivity hardening in the strain rate range of approximately 103/second-106/second in association with a ballistic and/or explosive event. 2. The laminar composite structure of claim 1, wherein said structural first layer and said structural third layer each at least substantially consist of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, fiber-reinforced matrix composite and ceramic. 3. The laminar composite structure of claim 1, said laminar composite structure being characterized by resistance with respect to impact by a projectile that penetrates said structural first layer, wherein said projectile is mitigated upon traversing said structural first layer and said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer, and wherein said structural third layer is deformed but remains at least substantially intact upon impact by said projectile. 4. The laminar composite structure of claim 3, wherein said mitigation of said projectile includes at least one of blunting, breakage and slowing of said projectile, and wherein said deformation of said structural third layer includes at least one of denting and breakage of said structural third layer. 5. The laminar composite structure of claim 4, wherein: said laminar composite structure further comprises a fluid contained by said structural third layer; said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer stiffens upon being traversed by said projectile; said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer subsequently elasticizes so as to form a membrane that at least substantially covers said deformation of said structural third layer; said deformation of said structural third layer includes breakage; said membrane reduces leakage of said fluid from said laminar composite structure. 6. The laminar composite structure of claim 5, wherein said laminar composite structure is tubular. 7. The laminar composite structure of claim 4, wherein said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric intermediate layer stiffens upon being traversed by said projectile, and wherein said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric intermediate layer is characterized by a de-perforatively self-restorative quality whereby, if said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric intermediate layer is perforated upon being traversed by said projectile, then immediately following said traversal said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer elastically expands so as to at least substantially restore continuity to itself at the site of said perforation, said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer thereby forming a membrane that is at least substantially coextensive with said deformation of said structural third layer. 8. The laminar composite structure of claim 1, wherein said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer at least substantially consists of polyurea. 9. The laminar composite structure of claim 1, wherein said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer at least substantially consists of a mixture of polyurea and polyurethane. 10. A tubular composite article for use in association with a tubular body, said tubular body having an outside surface and being characterized by rigidity, said tubular composite article comprising an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein: said outer layer is characterized by rigidity; said inner layer comprising a high strain-rate-sensitive elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurea and a mixture thereof and characterized by elasticity, a Young's modulus in the range of approximately 700-1000 psi at 100% strain, and high strain-rate-sensitivity hardening in the strain-rate range of approximately 103/second-106/second in association with a ballistic and/or explosive event; said tubular composite article is capable of attachment so as to contiguously circumscribe the outside surface of said tubular body and confine the high strain-rate-sensitive elastomer so as to alleviate damage to said tubular structure that ensues from the impact of a projectile; the alleviation by said tubular composite article of said damage includes the moderation of said projectile, both structurally and kinetically, by said tubular composite article prior to said projectile reaching said tubular structure. 11. The tubular composite article of claim 10, wherein: said tubular body contains a fluid; said inner layer tends toward a rigid state when absorbing energy from said projectile; said inner layer tends toward an elastic state after absorbing energy from said projectile; the alleviation by said tubular composite article of said damage includes, after said absorption of energy by said inner layer, the effective formation by said inner layer of a protective membrane over said tubular body, said protective membrane attenuating leakage of said fluid from said tubular body. 12. The tubular composite article of claim 10, wherein said outer layer and said tubular body each at least substantially consist of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, fiber-reinforced matrix composite and ceramic. 13. The tubular composite article of claim 10, wherein said inner layer at least substantially consists of polyurea. 14. The tubular composite article of claim 10, wherein said inner layer at least substantially consists of a mixture of polyurea and polyurethane. 15. The tubular composite article of claim 10, wherein said inner layer stiffens upon being traversed by said projectile, and wherein said inner layer is characterized by a de-perforatively self-restorative quality whereby, if said inner layer is perforated upon being traversed by said projectile, then immediately following said traversal said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer elastically expands so as to at least substantially restore continuity to itself at the site of said perforation, said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomeric second layer thereby forming a membrane that is at least substantially coextensive with said damage to said tubular structure. 16. A method for attributing a hollow object with a protective barrier, said hollow object including a rigid wall, said method comprising: placing a rigid sleeve around said hollow object so as to leave a space between said sleeve and said rigid wall; substantially filling said space with a highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomer and as a result confining said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomer, said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomer selected from the consisting of polyurethane, polyurea and a mixture thereof and characterized by a Young's modulus in the range of approximately 700-1000 psi at 100% strain, said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomer further characterized by high strain-rate-sensitivity hardening in the strain-rate range of approximately 103/second-106/second in association with a ballistic and/or explosive event. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein performance of said placing and said substantially filling results in a laminar composite structure that includes three adjacent layers, said three adjacent layers being a structural outside layer, an elastomeric intermediate layer and a structural inside layer, said structural outside layer being constituted by said rigid sleeve, said elastomeric intermediate layer being constituted by said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomer in a cured state, said structural inside layer being constituted by said rigid wall. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein said rigid sleeve and said rigid wall are each made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, fiber-reinforced matrix composite and ceramic. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein said strain-rate-sensitive elastomer comprises polyurea. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein said at least substantially filling said space includes confining said strain-rate-sensitive elastomer between said sleeve and said rigid wall so that said highly strain-rate-sensitive elastomer is characterized by a Young's modulus increasing to at least approximately 500,000 psi in the strain-rate range of approximately 103/second-106/second in association with a ballistic and/or explosive event.