Abstract: Blast absorbing structures and system for use in absorbing blast forces exerted on a floor of a personnel cabin of a vehicle, are disclosed. The blast absorbing flexing structure comprises a bottom section forming a floor of the cabin, a first side section and opposing second side section, each side section extending from the bottom section and including a plurality of steps along a length of the second side section. The steps flex in response to a blast force. In another embodiment, the blast absorbing expanding structure comprises a force abatement device forming a floor of the cabin, a cover plate having a plurality of slots arranged around a perimeter of the plate. The cover plate is movable between a neutral position and a blast force position to diminish the blast forces prior to the blast forces to reaching an occupant of the cabin.

Abstract: Blast absorbing structures and system for use in absorbing blast forces exerted on a floor of a personnel cabin of a vehicle, are disclosed. The blast absorbing flexing structure comprises a bottom section forming a floor of the cabin, a first side section and opposing second side section, each side section extending from the bottom section and including a plurality of steps along a length of the second side section. The steps flex in response to a blast force. In another embodiment, the blast absorbing expanding structure comprises a force abatement device forming a floor of the cabin, a cover plate having a plurality of slots arranged around a perimeter of the plate. The cover plate is movable between a neutral position and a blast force position to diminish the blast forces prior to the blast forces to reaching an occupant of the cabin.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a protective helmet for the military and other uses are disclosed. Embodiments of the method include winding ballistic-tolerant tape or fibers to create a preform, placing the preform into a first mold member having an interior that defines a helmet-shaped cavity, and pressing together the first mold member against a second mold member that includes a pressurized bladder member. The method may further include pressurizing the bladder until the first and second mold members are heated and adhesives have melted or cured. The first and second mold members are cooled and the preform is removed from the first and second mold members.

Abstract: A ballistic-resistant panel in which the entire panel or a strike-face portion thereof is formed of a plurality of sheets of high modulus high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The sheets of high modulus polyethylene tape can be in the form of cross-plied laminated layers of tape strips or a woven fabric of tape strips. The strips of UHMWPE tape include a width of at least one inch and a modulus of greater than 1400 grams per denier. The ballistic-resistant panel may include a backing layer of conventional high modulus fibers embedded in resin. A wide variety of adhesives were found acceptable for bonding the cross-plied layers of high modulus polyethylene tape together for forming the ballistic-resistant panels of the present invention.

Abstract: A ballistic-resistant panel in which the entire panel or a strike-face portion thereof is formed of a plurality of sheets of high modulus high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The sheets of high modulus polyethylene tape can be in the form of cross-plied laminated layers of tape strips or a woven fabric of tape strips. The strips of UHMWPE tape include a width of at least one inch and a modulus of greater than 1400 grams per denier. The ballistic-resistant panel may include a backing layer of conventional high modulus fibers embedded in resin. A wide variety of adhesives were found acceptable for bonding the cross-plied layers of high modulus polyethylene tape together for forming the ballistic-resistant panels of the present invention.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a protective helmet for the military and other uses are disclosed. Embodiments of the method include winding ballistic-tolerant tape or fibers to create a preform, placing the preform into a first mold member having an interior that defines a helmet-shaped cavity, and pressing together the first mold member against a second mold member that includes a pressurized bladder member. The method may further include pressurizing the bladder until the first and second mold members are heated and adhesives have melted or cured. The first and second mold members are cooled and the preform is removed from the first and second mold members.

Abstract: A ballistic-resistant panel in which the entire panel or a strike-face portion thereof is formed of a plurality of sheets of high modulus high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The sheets of high modulus polyethylene tape can be in the form of cross-plied laminated layers of tape strips or a woven fabric of tape strips. The strips of UHMWPE tape include a width of at least one inch and a modulus of greater than 1400 grams per denier. The ballistic-resistant panel may include a backing layer of conventional high modulus fibers embedded in resin. A wide variety of adhesives were found acceptable for bonding the cross-plied layers of high modulus polyethylene tape together for forming the ballistic-resistant panels of the present invention.

Abstract: A ballistic resistant panel including a strike face portion and a backing portion. The strike face portion includes a plurality of interleaved layers of non-fibrous ultra high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The backing portion includes a plurality of interleaved layers of cross-plied fibers of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The entire stack of interleaved layers is compressed at high temperature and pressure to form a ballistic resistant panel having a strike face on one side. It has been found that ballistic resistance increases as the weight ratio of the strike face portion with respect to the backing portion decreases. A composite panel having a strike face Tensylon tape with at most 40% of the total weight of the panel exhibits improved ballistic resistance properties as compared to a monolithic structure of strictly interleaved layers of cross-plied high modulus fibers.

Abstract: A ballistic-resistant molded article having a sandwich-type structure including two outer portions of a first high modulus material surrounding an inner portion of a second high modulus material. The outer portions are comprised of a plurality of interleaved layers of adhesive coated cross-plied non-fibrous ultra high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The inner portion is comprised of a plurality of interleaved layers of high modulus cross-plied fibers embedded in resin. The stack of interleaved layers is compressed at high temperature and pressure to form a hybrid sandwich ballistic-resistant molded article that includes a mix of high modulus materials. It has been found that ballistic resistance is higher for the hybrid structure than for a monolithic structure of comparable areal density.

Abstract: A ballistic-resistant panel in which the entire panel or a strike-face portion thereof is formed of a plurality of sheets of high modulus high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The sheets of high modulus polyethylene tape can be in the form of cross-plied laminated layers of tape strips or a woven fabric of tape strips. The strips of UHMWPE tape include a width of at least one inch and a modulus of greater than 1400 grams per denier. The ballistic-resistant panel may include a backing layer of conventional high modulus fibers embedded in resin. A wide variety of adhesives were found acceptable for bonding the cross-plied layers of high modulus polyethylene tape together for forming the ballistic-resistant panels of the present invention.

Abstract: A personal ballistic protective device having a first layer comprised of ballistic material and a second layer comprised of buoyant material. The second layer preferably has a density sufficient to counteract a density of at least the first layer of ballistic material such that the first layer and the second layer have a combined density substantially equal to or less than the density of water. A method of counteracting negative buoyancy in a personal protective device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A ceramic shell is disclosed. The ceramic shell can be used, for example, in an armor device or system. The ceramic shell includes two or more of an upper portion, a curved portion, and a seat portion. At least one of the upper portion, the curved portion, and the seat portion includes at least one of a first side portion and a second side portion. The at least of one the first side portion and the second side portion extends forward and includes at least one curved surface. The at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion is monolithically connected to at least one of the upper portion, the curved portion, and the seat portion.

Abstract: A ceramic shell is disclosed. The ceramic shell can be used, for example, in an armor device or system. The ceramic shell includes two or more of an upper portion, a curved portion, and a seat portion. At least one of the upper portion, the curved portion, and the seat portion includes at least one of a first side portion and a second side portion. The at least of one the first side portion and the second side portion extends forward and includes at least one curved surface. The at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion is monolithically connected to at least one of the upper portion, the curved portion, and the seat portion.

Abstract: A method of fabricating complex hollow composite structures from laminates of fiber reinforced synthetic resins. The structures are fully monocoque tubes with no seams. The tubes are manufactured by wrapping a hollow semi-rigid inner mandrel made of thermoplastic material such as polystyrene or ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene co-polymer) with layers of composite sheets. The sheets are made from high-strength fibers impregnated with thermosetting or thermoplastic resins.The laminated mandrel is placed in a mold, heated and inflated to a predetermined pressure. The pressure can range from 20-200 psig and even higher, while the curing temperature can range from 200.degree.-600.degree. F. The pressure generated by the expanding core produces a highly consolidated composite structure that has fewer voids, a more uniform thickness, and an increased fiber content compared to hollow composites made by other fabrication methods.