Blast deflecting shield for ground vehicles and shielded ground vehicles and methods including same

1. An underbody blast shield for deflecting a blast incident on a ground vehicle, the blast shield comprising:

an impact section having an exterior impact surface to face a source of the blast, wherein the exterior impact surface defines a cross-sectional profile defining a smooth continuous curve;

wherein the profile defines a catenary generally described by the equation:

y

=

a

2

⁢

(

ⅇ

x

a

+

ⅇ

-

x

a

)

wherein:

x is the coordinate on the profile along a vehicle lateral axis;

y is the coordinate on the profile along a vehicle vertical axis;

a is the curvature coefficient that defines the curve aspect ratio; and

e is the base of the natural logarithm function, approximated by 2.7182818 . . . ; and

wherein the profile defines a catenary over the entirety of the profile, and the profile is defined by at least a majority of the width of the impact surface of the blast shield.

2. The blast shield of claim 1 wherein the profile defines a catenary having a curvature coefficient in the range of from 3 to 30.

3. The blast shield of claim 1 wherein the impact section is monolithic.

4. The blast shield of claim 1 wherein the impact section is formed of metal.

5. The blast shield of claim 1 wherein the impact section is formed of fiber-reinforced composite.

6. The blast shield of claim 1 including at least one vehicle attachment structure integral with the impact section and configured to secure the blast shield to the ground vehicle.

7. The blast shield of claim 1 including a reinforcing rib extending across the impact section on an interior side thereof opposite the impact surface.

8. A shielded ground vehicle comprising:

a ground vehicle; and

an underbody blast shield for deflecting a blast incident on the ground vehicle, the blast shield being integrated with the ground vehicle and including an impact section having an exterior impact surface to face a source of the blast, wherein the exterior impact surface defines a cross-sectional profile defining a smooth continuous curve;

wherein the profile defines a catenary generally described by the equation:

y

=

a

2

⁢

(

ⅇ

x

a

+

ⅇ

-

x

a

)

wherein:

x is the coordinate on the profile along a vehicle lateral axis;

y is the coordinate on the profile along a vehicle vertical axis;

a is the curvature coefficient that defines the curve aspect ratio; and

e is the base of the natural logarithm function, approximated by 2.7182818 . . . ; and

wherein the profile defines a catenary over the entirety of the profile, and the profile is defined by at least a majority of the width of the impact surface of the blast shield.

9. The shielded ground vehicle of claim 8 wherein the profile defines a catenary having a curvature coefficient in the range of from 3 to 30.

10. The shielded ground vehicle of claim 8 wherein the impact section is monolithic.

11. The shielded ground vehicle of claim 8 wherein the impact section is formed of metal.

12. The shielded ground vehicle of claim 8 wherein the impact section is formed of fiber-reinforced composite.

13. The shielded ground vehicle of claim 8 wherein the blast shield includes at least one vehicle attachment structure integral with the impact section and securing the blast shield to the ground vehicle.

14. The shielded ground vehicle of claim 8 wherein the blast shield includes a reinforcing rib extending across the impact section on an interior side thereof opposite the impact surface.

15. A method for operating a shielded ground vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a shielded ground vehicle including:

a ground vehicle; and

an underbody blast shield for deflecting a blast incident on the ground vehicle, the blast shield being integrated with the ground vehicle and including an impact section having an exterior impact surface to face a source of the blast, wherein the exterior impact surface defines a cross-sectional profile defining a smooth continuous curve;

wherein the profile defines a catenary generally described by the equation:

y

=

a

2

⁢

(

ⅇ

x

a

+

ⅇ

-

x

a

)

wherein:

x is the coordinate on the profile along a vehicle lateral axis;

y is the coordinate on the profile along a vehicle vertical axis;

a is the curvature coefficient that defines the curve aspect ratio; and

e is the base of the natural logarithm function, approximated by 2.7182818 . . . ; and

wherein the profile defines a catenary over the entirety of the profile and the profile is defined by at least a majority of the width of the impact surface of the blast shield; and

receiving a blast on the exterior impact surface.