Shear thickening fluids for ballistic protection applications

简易爆炸装置弹片造成的危险是加拿大部队的主要关切。为了应对这些挑战，必须不断采用新材料和新技术，开发更灵活、更轻便的装甲系统。将剪切增稠流体（STF）嵌入传统防弹织物中就是一种可能实用的技术。由悬浮在载液中的细固体颗粒组成的STF的物理特性对于保护设备是有利的，其是材料是场响应的。这意味着材料在各种威胁下会有不同的表现。例如，在与正常运动相关的应变下，流体能够流动并且装甲将是柔性的，然而在施加高应变率力（诸如弹道事件）时，材料弯曲以提供保护。这使得涉及STF的系统有可能用于士兵的肢体保护系统，以应对来自简易爆炸装置的当代弹片威胁。此外，警察部队和私营保安人员可能对这种灵活的保护系统感兴趣。拟议的研究计划包括一个全面的实验和计算调查的基本行为的STF下的高应变率动态加载，同时施加相同幅度的力，参与弹道事件。 将使用单级轻气炮研究各种流体-固体颗粒系统的弹道响应，以确定防止弹道撞击威胁的最佳系统。应用STF技术开发新的现场反应装甲对加拿大部队以及其他安全人员都是非常宝贵的。

The hazards posed by shrapnel from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are of primary concern to the Canadian Forces. In order to meet these challenges, the continued incorporation of new materials and technologies is necessary in the development of more flexible, lightweight armour systems. The integration of Shear Thickening Fluids (STF) embedded in traditional ballistic fabrics is one such technology that could be practical. The physical characteristics of STF, which consists of fine solid particles suspended in a carrier fluid, which are advantageous for protective equipment is that the materials are field-responsive. This means that the materials will behave differently under various threats. For example, under the strain involved with normal motion, the fluids are able to flow and the armour would be flexible, however upon application of a high-strain-rate force such as a ballistic event, the materials stiffen to provide protection. This enables systems involving STF to potentially be utilized in limb protection systems for soldiers to meet contemporary shrapnel threats from IEDs. Additionally, such flexible protection systems could be of interest to police forces as well as private security personnel. The proposed research program consists of a comprehensive experimental and computational investigation of the fundamental behaviour of STF under high-strain rate dynamic loading while applying the same amplitude forces that are involved in ballistic events. The ballistic response of a variety of fluid-solid particle systems will be studied using single-stage light gas guns to determine the optimum system for protecting against ballistic impact threats. The application of STF technology to develop new field-responsive armours would be invaluable to the Canadian Forces, as well as to other security personnel.