Abstract: The disclosed invention specifies: 1) a metal or alloy with specific characteristics of its Deformation-induced Volumetric Microstructural Imperfections (DIVMI), 2) a method to measure these imperfections, and 3) a method to control these imperfections in a way that enhances one or more of strength, ductility, and the high cycle fatigue endurance limit of metals and alloys. The invention recognizes that all deformation-processed metals or alloys contain DIVMI and that through Severe Plastic Deformation processing one can minimize the characteristics of DIVMI that limit mechanical properties. Application of the methods to measure and control imperfections allows one to produce metals and alloys with strengths approaching the theoretical limit of strength.

Abstract: An armor system in which a plurality of constraint cells are mounted on a surface of a substrate, which is metal armor plate or a similar tough material, such that the cells almost completely cover the surface of the substrate. Each constraint cell has a projectile-receiving wall parallel to the substrate surface and has sides which are perpendicular to and surround the perimeter of the receiving wall. The cells are mounted such that, in one embodiment, the substrate surface serves as a sixth side or closure for each cell. Each cell has inside of it a plate, termed the front plate, which is parallel to and in contact with substantially all of the inside surface of the receiving wall. The balance of each cell is completely filled with a projectile-abrading material, which is a ceramic material in particulate form dispersed in a polymeric matrix.