Apparatus for inhibiting effects of an explosive blast

1. An apparatus for inhibiting effects of an explosive blast, comprising:

a central portion including a stiffening element and defining a radiused exterior surface;

a plurality of sides extending from the central portion for attachment to a structure;

first and second transverse member extending between the plurality of sides; and a blast attenuator, the blast attenuator comprising:

a core defining a plurality of interconnecting pores defining a pore volume of the core;

a shear thickening fluid disposed in the pore volume of the core; and

an enclosure in which the core and the shear thickening fluid are disposed;

wherein the central portion and the plurality of sides are configured to redirect at least a portion of a blast wave resulting from an explosive blast; and

wherein the first transverse member, the second transverse member, and the plurality of sides define a cavity in which the blast attenuator is disposed.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1 , wherein the central portion comprises:

an outer skin; and

an inner skin;

wherein the stiffening element extends between the outer skin and the inner skin.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 2 , wherein the stiffening element is a truss.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a crushable portion disposed in the cavity.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 1 , wherein the central portion is formed using a superplastic forming process.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of sides is configured to mate with a vehicle.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus forms a portion of a vehicle.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sides forms an angle within a range of about 25 degrees to about 60 degrees with respect to a central axis bisecting the central portion.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 1 , wherein the central portion exhibits a radius of at least about 15 centimeters.

10. The apparatus, according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a material exhibiting a modulus of elasticity greater than about ten million pounds per square inch.

11. The apparatus, according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises one of aluminum, aluminum alloyed with one or more elements, titanium, titanium alloyed with one or more elements, and steel.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a material capable of being superplastically formed.

13. An apparatus for inhibiting effects of an explosive blast, comprising:

a central portion including a stiffening element and defining a radiused exterior surface;

a plurality of sides extending from the central portion for attachment to a structure;

first and second transverse members extending between the plurality of sides; and

a blast attenuator;

wherein the central portion and the plurality of sides are configured to redirect at least a portion of a blast wave resulting from an explosive blast; and

wherein the blast attenuator comprises:

a plurality of blast attenuation components, each blast attenuation component comprising:

a core defining a plurality of interconnecting pores defining a pore volume of the core;

a shear thickening fluid disposed in the pore volume of the core; and

an enclosure in which the core and the shear thickening fluid are disposed.

14. The apparatus, according to claim 13 , wherein the central portion comprises:

an outer skin; and

an inner skin;

wherein the stiffening element extends between the outer skin and the inner skin.

15. The apparatus, according to claim 14 , wherein the stiffening element is a truss.

16. The apparatus, according to claim 13 , wherein the central portion is formed using a superplastic forming process.

17. The apparatus, according to claim 13 , wherein at least some of the plurality of sides is configured to mate with a vehicle.

18. The apparatus, according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus forms a portion of a vehicle.

19. The apparatus, according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sides forms an angle within a range of about 25 degrees to about 60 degrees with respect to a central axis bisecting the central portion.

20. The apparatus, according to claim 13 , wherein the central portion exhibits a radius of at least about 15 centimeters.

21. The apparatus, according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus comprises a material exhibiting a modulus of elasticity greater than about ten million pounds per square inch.

22. The apparatus, according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus comprises one of aluminum, aluminum alloyed with one or more elements, titanium, titanium alloyed with one or more elements, and steel.

23. The apparatus, according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus comprises a material capable of being superplastically formed.

24. An apparatus for inhibiting effects of an explosive blast, comprising:

a central portion comprising:

an outer skin exhibiting a radius;

an inner skin; and

a stiffening element extending between the outer skin and the inner skin;

a plurality of sides extending from the outer skin of the central portion;

a first transverse member extending between the plurality of sides;

a second transverse member extending between the plurality of sides, such that the first transverse member, the second transverse member, and the plurality of sides define a cavity; and

a blast attenuator disposed in the cavity, the blast attenuator comprising:

a core defining a plurality of interconnecting pores defining a pore volume of the core;

a shear thickening fluid disposed in the pore volume of the core; and

an enclosure in which the core and the shear thickening fluid are disposed.

25. The apparatus, according to claim 24 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sides forms an angle within a range of about 25 degrees to about 60 degrees with respect to a central axis bisecting the central portion.

26. The apparatus, according to claim 24 , wherein the outer skin of the central portion exhibits a radius of at least about 15 centimeters.

27. The apparatus, according to claim 24 , further comprising:

a crushable portion disposed in the cavity.