Overpressure protection
Overpressure absorbing material is positioned on the exterior of an enclosure. When an explosion occurs adjacent the enclosure, the overpressure absorbing material absorbs a large portion of an incoming overpressure wave from the explosion. The overpressure absorbing material cushions the impact of the overpressure wave against the enclosure and may prevent the incoming overpressure wave from penetrating the enclosure in sufficient magnitude to cause injury to the enclosure's occupants. The overpressure absorbing material may also be positioned on the interior of the enclosure. The overpressure wave from the explosion may enter the enclosure via a breach or other opening and may resonate within the enclosure, causing injury to the enclosure's occupants. The interior overpressure absorbing material also prevents a significant magnitude of the overpressure wave from being reflected off the interior walls of the enclosure, resonating within the enclosure, and causing injury to the enclosure's occupants.
1. An overpressure wave absorbing system comprising:
a protective layer;
a first deflectable planar layer with a first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein and
a second deflectable planar layer with a second matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein wherein the first deflectable planar layer and the second deflectable planar layer each have substantially greater than fifty percent planar surface area, wherein at least one deflectable protrusion of the second matrix of deflectable protrusions is attached to an opposing deflectable protrusion of the first matrix of deflectable protrusions, and wherein one or both of the first deflectable planar layer with the first matrix of deflectable protrusions and the second deflectable planar layer with the second matrix of deflectable protrusions are configured to absorb a portion of an incoming overpressure wave and reduce a magnitude of the overpressure wave incident on the protective layer.
2. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is attached to the first deflectable planar layer.
3. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is offset a distance from the first deflectable planar layer.
4. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the overpressure wave incident on the protective layer is reduced by at least twenty percent.
5. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is armor on an armored vehicle.
6. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is body armor on an individual.
7. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is wall of a fixed structure.
8. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is an individual's skin.
9. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 1 , configured to absorb energy by deflecting in response to the overpressure wave.
10. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 1 , wherein the deflectable protrusions extending from the first deflectable planar layer have a height to diameter ratio of greater than about 1:1.
11. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 1 , wherein the deflectable protrusions extending from the first deflectable planar layer have a height to diameter ratio of greater than about 2:1.
12. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is a wall of a partially-sealed enclosure.
13. A method of absorbing an overpressure wave comprising:
placing a first deflectable planar layer with a first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein between a protective layer and an expected source of an incoming overpressure wave, and
placing a second deflectable planar layer with a second matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein adjacent the first deflectable planar layer with the first matrix of deflectable protrusions, wherein the first deflectable planar layer and the second deflectable planar layer each have substantially greater than fifty percent planar surface area, wherein at least one deflectable protrusion of the second matrix of deflectable protrusions is attached to an opposing deflectable protrusion of the first matrix of deflectable protrusions, and wherein one or both of the first deflectable planar layer with a the first matrix of deflectable protrusions and the second deflectable planar layer with the second matrix of deflectable protrusions are is configured to absorb a portion of the incoming overpressure wave and reduce a magnitude of the overpressure wave incident on the protective layer.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the protective layer is attached to the first deflectable planar layer.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the protective layer is offset a distance from the first deflectable planar layer.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the magnitude of the overpressure wave incident on the protective layer is reduced by at least twenty percent.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the protective layer is armor on an armored vehicle.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the protective layer is body armor on an individual.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the protective layer is wall of a fixed structure.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the protective layer is an individual's skin.
21. The method of claim 13 , configured to absorb energy by deflecting in response to the overpressure wave.
22. The method of claim 13 , wherein the deflectable protrusions extending from the first deflectable planar layer have a height to diameter ratio of greater than about 1:1.
23. The method of claim 13 , wherein the deflectable protrusions extending from the first deflectable planar layer have a height to diameter ratio of greater than about 2:1.
24. An overpressure wave absorbing system comprising:
a protective layer;
a first deflectable planar layer with a first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein; and
a second deflectable planar layer with a second matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein, wherein the first deflectable planar layer and the second deflectable planar layer each have has substantially greater than fifty percent planar surface area, wherein at least one deflectable protrusion of the second matrix of deflectable protrusions is attached to an opposing deflectable protrusion of the first matrix of deflectable protrusions, and wherein one or both of the first deflectable planar layer with the first matrix of deflectable protrusions and the second deflectable planar layer with the second matrix of deflectable protrusions are configured to absorb a portion of an incoming overpressure wave and reduce a magnitude of the overpressure wave reflected from the protective layer.
25. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 24 , wherein the protective layer is attached to the first deflectable planar layer.
26. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 24 , wherein the protective layer is offset a distance from the first deflectable planar layer.
27. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 24 , wherein the magnitude of the overpressure wave reflected from the protective layer is reduced by at least forty percent.
28. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 24 , wherein the protective layer is armor on an armored vehicle.
29. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 24 , wherein the protective layer is body armor on an individual.
30. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 24 , wherein the protective layer is wall of a fixed structure.
31. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 24 , wherein the protective layer is an individual's skin.
32. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 24 , configured to absorb energy by deflecting in response to the overpressure wave.
33. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 24 , wherein the deflectable protrusions extending from the first deflectable planar layer have a height to diameter ratio of greater than about 1:1.
34. The overpressure wave absorbing system of claim 24 , wherein the deflectable protrusions extending from the first deflectable planar layer have a height to diameter ratio of greater than about 2:1.
35. A method of absorbing an overpressure wave comprising:
placing a first deflectable planar layer with a first matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein between a protective layer and an expected source of an incoming overpressure wave, and
placing a second deflectable planar layer with a second matrix of deflectable protrusions formed therein adjacent the first deflectable planar layer with the first matrix of deflectable protrusions, wherein the first deflectable planar layer and the second deflectable planar layer each have substantially greater than fifty percent planar surface area, wherein at least one deflectable protrusion of the second matrix of deflectable protrusions is attached to an opposing deflectable protrusion of the first matrix of deflectable protrusions, and wherein one or both of the first deflectable planar layer with a the first matrix of deflectable protrusions and the second deflectable planar layer with the second matrix of deflectable protrusions are is configured to absorb a portion of the incoming overpressure wave and reduce a magnitude of the overpressure wave reflected from the protective layer.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein the protective layer is attached to the first deflectable planar layer.
37. The method of claim 35 , wherein the protective layer is offset a distance from the first deflectable planar layer.
38. The method of claim 35 , wherein the magnitude of the overpressure wave reflected from the protective layer is reduced by at least forty percent.
39. The method of claim 35 , wherein the protective layer is armor on an armored vehicle.
40. The method of claim 35 , wherein the protective layer is body armor on an individual.
41. The method of claim 35 , wherein the protective layer is wall of a fixed structure.
42. The method of claim 35 , wherein the protective layer is an individual's skin.
43. The method of claim 35 , configured to absorb energy by deflecting in response to the overpressure wave.
44. The method of claim 35 , wherein the deflectable protrusions extending from the first deflectable planar layer have a height to diameter ratio of greater than about 1:1.
45. The method of claim 35 , wherein the deflectable protrusions extending from the first deflectable planar layer have a height to diameter ratio of greater than about 2:1.