Self diagnostic composite armor

US8752432B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army · US

Inventors

• Thomas J. Meitzler · Troy, US
• Ivan Wong · Novi, US
• Thomas P. Reynolds · Warren, US
• Samuel E. Ebenstein · Southfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 2011
• Grant date: Jun 17, 2014
• Expiry date: Dec 3, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/0231
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system incorporating sensor enhanced composite armor structure. The structure has one layer including ceramic tiles and ceramic-material transducers, wherein the ceramic tiles and the transducers fit closely together so that the one layer is ballistically windowless. The structure has other layers composed of armor material stacked with the one layer, the one layer and the other layers forming a plate which as a unit has a set or group of fundamental frequencies. The system includes logic means to analyze only signals resulting from vibrations transmitted from the one transducer to the other transducer through the one layer. The logic means thereby derives a signal fingerprint which characterizes a state of damage to the plate.