System, method, and apparatus for forming ballistic armor from ceramic and shape memory metallic alloy materials
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsCraig A. Brice, Brian T. Rosenberger, Slade H. Gardner, Nathan L. Weber
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Abstract
A ballistic armor uses shape memory alloys and novel joining techniques to form a solution from a combination of shape memory metallic alloys (SMA) and ceramic materials. The SMA allows a high amount of strain to be recovered through a low temperature heat treatment. The amount of strain recoverable is much higher than that available through conventional thermal expansion mismatch solutions. Solid state or low temperature bonding methods are used to join the dissimilar materials. This joining technique avoids introducing excessive heat that would cause the SMA to transform before the armor system is assembled.
Claims13
A method of forming armor, comprising:
- (a) deforming a shape memory alloy to a designated plastic strain level;
- (b) joining an interface material to the shape memory alloy;
- (c) joining the shape memory alloy to a ceramic armor plate at the interface material to form an assembly;
- and
- (d) heat treating the assembly to recover the designated plastic strain level in the shape memory alloy and put the ceramic armor plate in residual strain.
A method of forming ballistic armor, comprising:
- (a) deforming a shape memory alloy to a designated plastic tensile strain level;
- (b) joining an interface material to the shape memory alloy while the shape memory alloy is at the designated plastic strain level;
- (c) joining the shape memory alloy to a ceramic armor plate at the interface material while the shape memory alloy is at the designated plastic strain level to form an assembly;
- and
- (d) heat treating the assembly to completely recover the designated plastic strain level in the shape memory alloy and put the ceramic armor plate in residual compression at an interface with the interface material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.