METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE MITIGATION OF EXPLOSIVELY FORMED PROJECTILES

Abstract

A multi step approach to mitigating the effects of explosively formed projectiles (EFPs). The first step involves a splitting step whereby the EFP total mass is reduced into fragments having smaller masses. The fragments are then exposed to cascading armored disks in preparation for a temperature reduction or “cooling” step. Heat is reduced by conduction through a cooling medium. Temperature reduction restores some solid properties to each fragment. The EFP fragments are slowed by exposure to a series of cascading armored disks designed to disperse contact pressures from any remaining fragments.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/340,281 filed Mar. 15, 2010, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to armor in general and particularly to an armor composition that provides protection against explosively formed projectiles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recent conflicts in the Middle East and the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have demonstrated the devastating tactics used in modern day asymmetrical warfare. Unconventional methods such as IEDs are the choice of the insurgents as they provide a low cost easily constructed strategic weapon of influence within the region. The explosively formed projectile (EFP, also referred to as explosively formed penetrators) is a new deadly form of IED has made its way to the battlefield. This new weapon has wreaked havoc on coalition armor and has resulted in many casualties and tremendous loss of strategic assets.

The presence of EFPs on the battlefield has given rise to a demand for improved armor protection. These projectiles have the capacity to travel at hypervelocity speeds, often in excess of 3 km/sec or approximately 9,842 feet per second. These devices are constructed of a high explosive (HE) charge placed behind a metal disk that is designed to receive the blast pressure. These disks are often made from either copper or silver because they are extremely ductile and have relatively low melting temperatures, as compared to many other metals. Upon detonation the disk collapses and forms a molten slug possessing hydrodynamic properties. Recent studies suggest these projectiles possess both solid and liquid properties. One theory attempts to explain this by suggesting the EFP slug has an outer sheath that behaves as a solid and a molten inner core. (Cullis, Fort Halstead, UK). It is thought that the molten material can alloy with armor (or dissolve the armor) that it contacts, so as to reduce the strength of the armor material and may convert the armor material to a liquid state. This alloying or dissolving process can take place in very brief amounts of time. The penetrator mass then passes through the opening so created and can do significant damage to anything that it then contacts.

If an EFP slug is moving fast enough (e.g., has enough kinetic energy), the penetrator may be considered to be only strong enough to hold the material together in a liquid form.

Conventional armor systems are unable to handle the extreme forces generated from a hypervelocity impact caused by a molten or semi-molten copper slug. Current “up armor” systems for HMMWVs (also known as Humvees) are constructed using 1 inch (25.4 mm) thick laminated hardened steel plates. Although such armor is effective in providing protection from small arms fire and indirect shrapnel, it is ineffective in preventing an armor breach by an EFP slug. Typically penetration of an EFP is directly proportional to the material's density or specific gravity. The density for solid copper is 8,960 kg/m³.

Recent developments in EFP resistant systems, for example as employed by the Marine Corps in early 2009, involves multiple layers of 18 mm steel plates. Although these systems are hardened, they still fall short of providing full protection from EFP slugs and can cost as much as $2,000 per square foot.

There is a need for lightweight EFP resistant armor that is more effective than present armor systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the invention features an armor system. The armor system comprises a pair of outer layers of armor plate, one of the pair of outer layers of armor plate configured to provide an outer front surface and the other of the pair of outer layers of armor plate configured to provide an outer rear surface, the pair of outer layers of armor plate defining a volume therebetween, the outer rear surface configured to be attached to an object to be provided with armor; a splitter layer configured to receive an explosively formed projectile and configured to split the explosively formed projectile into a plurality of secondary projectiles, the splitter layer disposed within the volume between the pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent the one of the pair of outer layers of armor configured to provide the front surface; a first layer of armored disks disposed within the volume between the pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent the splitter layer, the first layer of armored disks configured to receive at least one of the plurality of the secondary projectiles and configured to disperse an impact force of the at least one of the plurality of the secondary projectiles along a plurality of directions, the first layer of armored disks comprising at least two rows of overlapping disks; a cooling layer disposed within the volume between the pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent the layer of armored disks, the cooling layer comprising a medium configured to absorb thermal energy from at least one of the plurality of the secondary projectiles and to reduce a temperature of the at least one of the plurality of the secondary projectiles; and a second layer of armored disks disposed within the volume between the pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent the cooling layer, the second layer of armored disks configured to receive at least one of the plurality of the secondary projectiles and configured to disperse an impact force of the at least one of the plurality of the secondary projectiles along a plurality of directions, the second layer of armored disks comprising at least two rows of overlapping disks.

In one embodiment, a layer of armored disks selected from the group consisting of the first layer of armored disks and the second layer of armored disks comprises circular disks.

In yet another embodiment, the circular disks have a central aperture.

In another embodiment, the circular disks are configured in an overlapping square array.

In still another embodiment, the circular disks are configured in an overlapping hexagonal array.

In a further embodiment, the cooling layer comprises a fibrous material immersed in a fluid medium.

In yet a further embodiment, the fluid medium comprises a rheopectic fluid.

In an additional embodiment, the splitter layer comprises bars.

In one more embodiment, the splitter layer comprises a first plurality of parallel bars having a length dimension disposed in a first direction, and a second plurality of parallel bars having a length dimension disposed in a second direction not parallel to the first direction.

In still a further embodiment, the bars are rolled bars.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method of mitigating the effects of an explosively formed projectile. The method comprises the steps of splitting a mass of an explosively formed projectile into a plurality of secondary projectiles having a respective smaller mass than the mass of the explosively formed projectile; cooling at least one of the plurality of secondary projectiles to a temperature below a temperature of the explosively formed projectile; and slowing at least one of the plurality of secondary projectiles to a velocity below a hydrodynamic termination velocity; thereby mitigating the effects of the explosively formed projectile on an object against which the explosively formed projectile is launched.

The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the invention can be better understood with reference to the drawings described below, and the claims. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective diagram that illustrates the internal structure and material composition of one embodiment of a SCS armor system, according to principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a cross section viewed from above of an embodiment of a SCS armor system, according to principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram that illustrates the dispersed contact pressures provided by the cascading or layered armored disks configured to transmit pressures in several directions.

FIG. 3 is a diagram that illustrates the formation of an EFP slug.

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram that illustrates an embodiment of an assembled SCS panel.

FIG. 4 is an illustration showing the cross section of an embodiment of an assembled SCS panel configuration as viewed from the top.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an assembled SCS panel configuration as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 8 is another perspective diagram illustrating an embodiment of an assembled SCS panel configuration as viewed from above facing the rear.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating several recovered EFP projectiles.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the cooling of a heated sphere in a fluid having lower temperature.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the split, cool and slow steps according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a graph illustrating various test results relating to cooling copper objects.

FIG. 13 is a diagram in plan view illustrating one embodiment of a cascading armored disk designed to disperse impacting energies in several directions.

FIG. 14 is a diagram in plan view illustrating another embodiment of a cascading armored disk design with a centered hole or aperture in each disk that is designed to disperse impacting energies in several directions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

We describe a three step approach for mitigating the effects of an EFP device which is called the “SCS” system and method. The acronym “SCS” stands for “split”, “cool”, and “slow,” which describes how the explosively formed projectile is treated. This three step approach offers a unique method for mitigating the effects of an EFP by weakening or reducing the effect of the penetrator by reducing its mass, its temperature, and its velocity. Although there are three primary steps to mitigation, there exists no set value for the number of layers that compose the 3 steps. It is advantageous to manipulate both the number of individual layers as well as their perspective positions in different combinations. These modifications each have as their effects remain the same, namely to split a penetrator to reduce the mass of individual portions relative to the original mass and to increase the surface to volume ratio of the individual portions relative to the original mass, to cool the individual portions of the penetrator so as to eliminate the ability of the penetrator to act as a mass in the molten state, and slow the velocity of the individual portions of the penetrator, so as to reduce kinetic energy (E=½ Mass×velocity) and momentum (P=mass×velocity).

As one understands from the above equations, a reduction of the mass of an EFP reduces both its kinetic energy and its momentum in proportion to the reduction in mass. As one understands from the above equations, a reduction of the velocity of an EFP reduces both its kinetic energy in proportion to the square of the reduction in velocity, and reduces its momentum in proportion to the reduction in velocity. The deliberate fragmentation of the warhead, while increasing the number of projectiles, also minimizes the mass of each fragment thereby limiting their respective kinetic energies. Another feature of causing the original mass of the penetrator to be broken into a number of smaller fragments, each having a smaller mass than the original mass of the penetrator is that the surface area relative to the volume increases (e.g., the surface to volume ratio increases).

To explain this phenomenon, we consider as a hypothetical example of a liquid having density D grams per cubic centimeter. We take an original spherical sample of liquid having a volume of one cubic centimeter. The split volumes of two spheres would be 0.5 cubic centimeter each. A sphere has a volume given by Volume=4/3π(Radius)³ and a surface area given by Surface=4π(Radius). Table I presents the respective values of volume, radius, surface are and surface to volume ratio of the original 1 cm³ object and an object of 0.5 cm³.

TABLE I
Volume		Radius	Surface	Surface to Volume
(cm3)	Radius3	(cm)	(cm2)	Ratio (cm−1)
1.0	0.238733	0.620351	4.835975	4.835975
0.5	0.119366	0.492373	3.046473	6.092946

A first structure is provided to convert the original mass of a single penetrator into a number of smaller fragments each having a smaller mass than the original mass.

A second structure comprising a multi-layered disk armor is designed to receive the smaller fragments of the penetrator and to reduce the velocities of each fragment, thereby reducing their kinetic energies and momenta, as well as their respective impact pressures. These disks provide a simultaneous dispersal of kinetic forces in several directions at each point of impact. This layer prepares the fragment to be exposed to a medium that can reduce its temperature. The medium can in various embodiments comprise a polymer in a gel.

The second step of mitigating the effect of an EFP involves reducing the temperature of each fragment by interaction with hydrophilic polymer fibers, or a similar cooling medium, bathed in a fluid medium that can absorb thermal energy. One such fluid medium is a glycerol/water solution that can provide a medium for transient heat reduction of each EFP fragment while providing conditions for hydrodynamic termination velocity. Preferably the fluid medium has rheopectic properties, that is, the fluid medium exhibits an increase in viscosity as shearing force is applied to it. There are rheopectic fluids that thicken or solidify when shaken. Examples of rheopectic fluids include gypsum pastes and printers inks. Some solutions of water and glycerol also exhibit rheopectic properties. Another class of materials that can be made more viscous with increase in applied stress (e.g., applied magnetic field) is magneto-rheopectic fluids. Delphi Corporation currently sells shock absorbers filled with a magneto-rheological fluid, whose viscosity can be changed electromagnetically.

In another embodiment, it is believed that one or more of the front layers or succeeding layers can be made of a piezoelectric or pyroelectric material. When a projectile impacts such a layer, the piezoelectric or pyroelectric material will generate a current. The energy so generated is expected to be used to energize a magneto-rheopectic fluid to provide a medium having properties that resist the penetration of the projectile. In this manner, the energy in the projectile can be used to aid in mitigating the effects of the projectile itself. In another embodiment, the electric generating layers are situated between the disc layers so they would provide current as the discs disperse the energy. Yet another embodiment is believed to involve making the discs out of electric generating material that could both disperse the impact energy and generate the electric current. This dual purpose layer is expected to contribute to keeping the complete systems weight to a minimum.

When cooled and slowed down, the EFP projectile loses its ability to possess hydrodynamic penetration properties and is characterized as either a plastic deformation or rigid body penetrator.

The next step of mitigating the effect of an EFP is the slowing of EFP fragments by a multi-layered armored disk designed to disperse force pressures in several directions for each individual impact point. This armor configuration offers a reduced weight solution as each layer is composed of disks rather than a heavier solid armor plating. As shown in FIG. 3 and in the embodiments shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, having a square array configuration, it is believed that energy can be dispersed in four directions. It is believed that a design having hexagonal symmetry would be effective in dispersing energy in six directions. Different designs may be contemplated that disperse energy preferentially in selected directions.

In the event the total velocity of each fragment is greater than zero, the reduction in speed will ultimately reduce the back spall created by any penetrations resulting in mitigating effects of each.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective diagram that illustrates the internal structure and material composition of one embodiment of a SCS armor system. The drawing illustrates one possible configuration of the composition but there can be other configurations involving either an increase of the number of each composition and or placement thereof.

FIG. 7 is a cross section viewed from above of an embodiment of an SCS armor system. This view illustrates one example of generating the intentional fragmentation of an EFP slug by using a matrix comprised of a plurality of bars. This example relies upon the hydrodynamic flow properties of the EFP slug to separate it into smaller fragments upon impacting the matrix. This effect is created by allowing the penetrator to seek pathways of least resistance upon impact with a hardened bar surface. This method relies upon the action properties of hydrodynamic flow and anticipates a separation of segments of the molten penetrator from its original mass at impact. The composition of the armor disks may include but are not limited to metals, ceramics, and synthetic materials. The layering of “armor” disks refers to a layering of hardened material configured to receive contact pressures and to disperse those pressures over a larger area. The term “armor” when used in reference to the layered disks refers to any medium having a hardened resistance to contact pressures.

FIG. 3 illustrates the dispersed contact pressures provided by the cascading or layered armored disks configured to transmit pressures in four directions simultaneously. These disks can also be configured to absorb additional pressures by including a compressive material sandwiched between each row of disks. Upon impact the layered compressive material is expected to absorb some of the kinetic energy while also dispersing pressures in multiple directions. This design is expected to create a continually expanding surface area over which the energies are expected to be absorbed.

FIG. 4 depicts the formation of an EFP slug. A high explosive (HE) charge is positioned behind a metal liner configured to receive the blast. Upon detonation the metal liner collapses under the blast pressures and takes the form of an aerodynamic projectile while on approach to its target.

FIG. 5 depicts one embodiment of an assembled SCS panel. One example of coolant medium includes but is not limited to a glycerol/water solution. The term “coolant medium” refers to any medium having a temperature lower than that of a potential penetrator. Upon contact between the two differing temperatures, a heat flow occurs from the higher temperature mass into the lower temperature mass or medium. Polymers offer a compressive property that allows compaction under pressure. The polymer base increases surface exposure of the cooling medium.

FIG. 8 is an illustration showing the cross section of an embodiment of an assembled SCS panel configuration as viewed from the top. Layered armor that is contemplated optionally can include compressive material between disks for additional kinetic absorption. A thermal barrier is provided between the layered armor and the cooling medium to prevent excessive heat exposure of the cooling medium. The thermal barrier can in some embodiments include either or both of an insulating material and a reflective composition.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an assembled SCS panel configuration as viewed from the rear. One example of enhanced absorption is to have a compressive material sandwiched between the layers of disks. The layered solution offers two unique pressure dispersal media that include both directional dispersal of energy and absorption of energy in a medium that is compressed.

FIG. 8 is another perspective diagram illustrating an embodiment of an assembled SCS panel configuration as viewed from above facing the rear. The splitting medium causes fragmentation or “splitting” of the projectile. Force imposed by an object is dependent upon the mass of the object as represented by Newton's second law of motion, F=MA, or force equals mass times acceleration (or deceleration). The purpose is to reduce the hydrodynamic flow properties of a projectile through both a reduction of speed and a reduction of temperature. There exists a velocity known as the “hydrodynamic termination velocity” below which an object loses its hydrodynamic flow properties. One objective in slowing down a projectile is to convert the projectile from a state of hydrodynamic flow down to a rigid body.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating several recovered EFP projectiles. Recovered EFP slugs suggest that temperature variations exist, which supports the theory of non-uniformity of heat flow. The circle striations illustrate stress on the metal as well as the central pressure point.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the cooling of a heated sphere in a fluid having lower temperature. FIG. 10 depicts the various temperature conditions often experienced by a heated sphere. These temperatures are important considerations when determining boundary values. Upon impacting the SCS armor there is initial kinetic velocity loss caused by contact with the hardened armor plate exterior. The remaining EFP slug then comes into contact with the first step of the SCS armor mitigation, a configuration designed to fragment the EFP, in one embodiment a series of rolled bars.

The slug fragments are then exposed to a multi-layered armored disk configuration designed to simultaneously spread the contact pressure in several directions at every location of impact. The result is each of the resulting pressure points are then conveyed to an additional set of plural contact points resulting in further mitigation of contact pressure. This layering technique spreads any single contact point out over an expanded area thereby reducing the pressures for each contact point and can be repeated until desired resistance has been reached. This “cascading” effect allows armor normally easily penetrated to successfully receive much higher pressures.

In one preferred embodiment the armor disks have a compressive medium sandwiched between each layer configured to absorb some kinetic energy caused by the impact.

Remaining EFP fragments surviving the layered armor are then exposed to the second step of SCS armor mitigation, the coolant medium which in a preferred embodiment is a bath made from hydrophilic polymers bathed in a glycerol/water solution. The temperature of the EFP fragments is reduced by a process of heat conduction, whereby each fragment is exposed to a substantially cooler medium than the overall fragment temperature. This significant temperature difference aids in the transfer of heat from the fragment out to the cooler medium.

In another embodiment the coolant medium is expected to be a non-aqueous medium.

EFP fragments still possessing a velocity greater than zero move onto the final step of the SCS armor mitigation, which includes an additional set of layered armored disks. Once more the contact pressures exerted on each disk is dispersed simultaneously in a multitude of directions in repeating form.

Any remaining fragments still possessing a velocity >0 after step 3 are finally exposed to the outer sheath of the SCS armor system, a hardened exterior steel plate. Any backspall generated as a result of full penetration should be significantly reduced as a result of the SCS composition.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the split, cool and slow steps according to the principles of the present invention.

EXPERIMENTS

An experiment was conducted to examine how differences between temperatures of two separate bodies were affected over time in the event of contact. The experiment showed that the greater the temperature difference between the two media, the greater the affect on their respective heat flows. The test object was copper heated to 300 degrees Celsius and immersed into water solution at room temperature of 17 degree Celsius.

Immersion was not finely controlled but averaged 0.3 seconds per contact. Trial #1 resulted in a 65% heat reduction of the copper, or a drop of 195 degrees Celsius. Trial #2 resulted in a 59% heat reduction or a temperature drop of 106 degrees Celsius. It is important to note that a temperature spike of +73 degrees occurred during trial #1 just moments after coolant medium had been removed. The initial temperature of the copper was 300 degrees Celsius which when immersed dropped to a momentary 105 degrees Celsius but spiked upwards of +73 degrees Celsius to a final temperature of 178 degrees Celsius representing a 41% spike in temperature.

The second immersion began at the 178 degree Celsius and experienced a 59% drop of temperature, or a 106 degrees Celsius drop down to 72 degrees Celsius. A temperature spike was also noted on the second immersion however its levels were significantly lower than in trial #1. In trial #2 the resulting 72 degrees Celsius was momentary and climbed to 85 degrees Celsius, or +13 degrees Celsius higher than immediate result of 72. This spike represented a 13% increase moments after immersion.

The third trial resulted in even less of a temperature drop overall and experienced no return spike after cooling medium had been removed. In trial #3 the starting temperature was 85 degrees Celsius and when immersed dropped to 67 degrees Celsius where the copper temperature held steady.

FIG. 12 is a graph illustrating various test results relating to cooling copper objects.

The graph illustrates the varying temperature readings during each test, with Ti=Initial temperature, Tm=Momentary temperature, and Tr=Resulting temperature.

FIG. 13 is a diagram in plan view illustrating one embodiment of a cascading armored disk designed to disperse impacting energies in several directions.

Table II lists the various layers of one embodiment of a SCS armor configuration that is expected to have a weight of 110 pounds per square foot. The layers are described by material composition, thickness, mass per square foot (Mass PSF), and the structure of the material in the layer. HHS denotes high hardened steel.

TABLE II
LAYER NO.	MATERIAL	THICKNESS - IN.	Mass PSF	STRUCTURE
1	SiC	0.5	8.2	DISKS
2	HHS	0.5	20	PLATE
3	AIR	1.0	0
4	SiC	0.375	6.2	DISKS
5	HHS	0.375	*15	PLATE
6	AIR	1.0	0
7	SiC	0.25	4.1	DISKS
8	HHS	0.25	*10	PLATE
9	SiC	0.5	8.2	DISKS
10	HHS	0.375	*15	PLATE
11	AIR	1.5	0
12	SiC	0.5	8.2	DISKS
13	HHS	0.375	*15	PLATE
			*110 PSF

Table III lists the various layers of one embodiment of a SCS armor configuration that is expected to have a weight of 78 pounds per square foot. This configuration replaces several layers of high hardened steel with a layer of SiC disks of equal thickness. This reduces the weight by 50% or more in layers previously containing HHS.

TABLE III
LAYER NO.	MATERIAL	THICKNESS - IN.	Mass PSF	STRUCTURE
1	SiC	0.5	8.2	DISKS
2	HHS	0.5	20	PLATE
3	AIR	1.0	0
4	SiC	0.375	6.2	DISKS
5	Sic	0.375	6.2	DISKS
6	AIR	1.0	0
7	SiC	0.25	4.1	DISKS
8	SiC	0.25	4.1	DISKS
9	SiC	0.5	8.2	DISKS
10	SiC	0.375	6.2	DISKS
11	AIR	1.5	0
12	SiC	0.5	8.2	DISKS
13	SiC	0.375	6.2	DISKS
		Thickness 7.50″	*78 PSF

FIG. 14 is a diagram in plan view illustrating another embodiment of a cascading armored disk design with a centered hole or aperture in each disk that is designed to disperse impacting energies in several directions.

The systems and methods of the invention are contemplated for use by military forces and/or by civilian policeforces.

Theoretical Discussion

Although the theoretical description given herein is thought to be correct, the operation of the devices described and claimed herein does not depend upon the accuracy or validity of the theoretical description. That is, later theoretical developments that may explain the observed results on a basis different from the theory presented herein will not detract from the inventions described herein.

Any patent, patent application, or publication identified in the specification is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material explicitly set forth herein is only incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the present disclosure material. In the event of a conflict, the conflict is to be resolved in favor of the present disclosure as the preferred disclosure.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred mode as illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be affected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. An armor system, comprising:

a pair of outer layers of armor plate, one of said pair of outer layers of armor plate configured to provide an outer front surface and the other of said pair of outer layers of armor plate configured to provide an outer rear surface, said pair of outer layers of armor plate defining a volume therebetween, said outer rear surface configured to be attached to an object to be provided with armor;

a splitter layer configured to receive an explosively formed projectile and configured to split said explosively formed projectile into a plurality of secondary projectiles, said splitter layer disposed within said volume between said pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent said one of said pair of outer layers of armor configured to provide said front surface;

a first layer of armored disks disposed within said volume between said pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent said splitter layer, said first layer of armored disks configured to receive at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles and configured to disperse an impact force of said at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles along a plurality of directions, said first layer of armored disks comprising at least two rows of overlapping disks;

a cooling layer disposed within said volume between said pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent said layer of armored disks, said cooling layer comprising a medium configured to absorb thermal energy from at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles and to reduce a temperature of said at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles; and

a second layer of armored disks disposed within said volume between said pair of outer layers of armor and adjacent said cooling layer, said second layer of armored disks configured to receive at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles and configured to disperse an impact force of said at least one of said plurality of said secondary projectiles along a plurality of directions, said second layer of armored disks comprising at least two rows of overlapping disks.

2. The armor system of claim 1, wherein a layer of armored disks selected from the group consisting of said first layer of armored disks and said second layer of armored disks comprises circular disks.

3. The armor system of claim 2, wherein said circular disks are configured in an overlapping square array.

4. The armor system of claim 2, wherein said circular disks have a central aperture.

5. The armor system of claim 2, wherein said circular disks are configured in an overlapping hexagonal array.

6. The armor system of claim 1, wherein said cooling layer comprises a fibrous material immersed in a fluid medium.

7. The armor system of claim 6, wherein said fluid medium comprises a rheopectic fluid.

8. The armor system of claim 1, wherein said splitter layer comprises bars.

9. The armor system of claim 8, wherein said splitter layer comprises a first plurality of parallel bars having a length dimension disposed in a first direction, and a second plurality of parallel bars having a length dimension disposed in a second direction not parallel to said first direction.

10. The armor system of claim 8, wherein said bars are rolled bars.

11. A method of mitigating the effects of an explosively formed projectile, comprising the steps of:

splitting a mass of an explosively formed projectile into a plurality of secondary projectiles having a respective smaller mass than said mass of said explosively formed projectile;

cooling at least one of said plurality of secondary projectiles to a temperature below a temperature of said explosively formed projectile; and

slowing at least one of said plurality of secondary projectiles to a velocity below a hydrodynamic termination velocity;

thereby mitigating the effects of said explosively formed projectile on an object against which said explosively formed projectile is launched.