Tuning Material and Component Properties to Reduce Weight and Increase Blastworthiness of a Notional V-Hull Structure

Abstract

In this paper, concepts are investigated for tuning material properties and component configurations in order to design structures with unique dynamic characteristics for mitigating blast loads while maintaining or reducing weight. The Dynamic Response Index (DRI) is employed as an occupant injury metric for determining the effectiveness of the each blast mitigation configuration that is considered. A finite element model of a notional V-Hull structure is used as a numerical example in this study. The material properties and the configuration of the inner bulkheads that connect the V-shaped outer surface with the inner floor are used as design parameters for reducing the DRI at a typical occupant location. In this particular example, it is demonstrated that both the weight of the structure and the DRI can be reduced simultaneously. This is achieved by creating a new structural design that features energy absorbing and decoupling mechanisms among the bulkheads, floor, seat, and the occupant.

Numerical simulation and optimization design of the landmine blast protection package

“…Shock wave propagation will not only cause deformation of the vehicle body structure, but also damage to the body of the occupants in the vehicle [1,2] . Lots of researchers have focused on reducing the damage of the armored vehicles and the occupants in the vehicles after the landmine blast in the soil under the vehicle [3][4][5] . Consequently, various types of underbody panels have been developed to mitigate the impact of the landmine blast on the vehicle body structure [6] .…”

Multilevel Design of Sandwich Composite Armors for Blast Mitigation using Bayesian Optimization and Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines

“…The aircraft industry has broad experience in studying acceleration injuries. The dynamic response index (DRI), originally developed to study spinal injuries due to high accelerations during the ejection seat, is an occupant injury metric that can be used to evaluate the blast mitigation characteristics of a vehicle [4]. DRI"s studies have shown that the risk of serious injuries is directly related to the ramp up acceleration experienced by the occupants [2].…”