Shear thickening fluids for ballistic protection applications

简易爆炸装置(简易爆炸装置)产生的弹片造成的危险是加拿大部队主要关切的问题。为了应对这些挑战，在开发更灵活、更轻型的装甲系统时，需要继续采用新材料和新技术。将剪切增稠流体(STF)嵌入到传统防弹织物中就是这样一种可能实用的技术。STF由悬浮在载液中的细小固体颗粒组成，对防护设备有利，其物理特性是材料是场响应的。这意味着这些材料在不同的威胁下会有不同的表现。例如，在正常运动所涉及的应变下，流体能够流动，盔甲将是柔性的，但在施加高应变率的力(如弹道事件)时，材料会变硬以提供保护。这使涉及STF的系统有可能被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，这种灵活的保护系统可能会引起警察部队和私营保安人员的兴趣。建议的研究计划包括对STF在高应变率动态加载下的基本行为进行全面的实验和计算研究，同时施加与弹道事件相同的幅值力。将使用单级轻气炮研究各种流固颗粒系统的弹道响应，以确定防止弹道冲击威胁的最佳系统。应用STF技术开发新的战地反应装甲，对加拿大部队以及其他安保人员来说都是非常宝贵的。

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.