US 2014/0196998 A1 · DYNAMIC LOAD-ABSORBING MATERIAL AND ARTICLES

Abstract

Dynamic load-absorbing materials suitable for use as cushion-type and armor-type materials, for example, of types that can be incorporated into protective gear, equipment, armor, vehicles, and various other structures, or used for the isolation and dissipation of vibratory loads, such as vibration isolators used to support avionic equipment. The impact-absorbing materials include a matrix material (22) and at least first and second sets of inclusions (which can be either included material or voids) (24) in the matrix material (22) that define a hierarchy of inclusions (24) in the matrix material (22). The inclusions (24) differ in size, quantity, shape and/or composition in a direction through the impact-absorbing material, the combination of which contributes to the ability of the material to exhibit at least one property that changes as the inclusions (24) are deformed under load.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A compound for protection of an object from a load, comprising:

a matrix material including at least three sizes of stress-concentrating features, including:
a plurality of first features having a first average characteristic dimension of between about ten microns and about two hundred microns;
a plurality of second features having a second average characteristic dimension that is at least about one order of magnitude larger than said first average characteristic dimension;
and
a plurality of third features having a third average characteristic dimension that is at least about one order of magnitude larger than said second average characteristic dimension;
wherein the material proximate to said first, second, and third features progressively buckles upon application of the load, such that material proximate said third features tends to deform before the deformation of material proximate to said second and first features, and material proximate said first features tends to deform after the deformation of material proximate to said second and third features.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dynamic load-absorbing material and articles

Life of this patent

Dynamic load-absorbing material and articles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22