A ballistic panel providing ballistic protection has a first plate having a rear surface and a front surface. A plurality of undulations is formed across the front surface of the first plate. The plurality of undulations increasing an amount of surface area to contact a projectile.

Various embodiments of a spiral shaped element and embedded wavy materials are disclosed for use in a shock mitigating material to dissipate the energy associated with the impact of an object. The shock mitigating material can be used in helmets, bumpers, bullet proof vests, military armor, and other applications. One embodiment, among others, is a shock mitigating material having a plurality of spiral shaped elements, each having a circular cross section, and each being tapered from a large outside end to a small inside end but also having an embedded wavy material that can induce shear waves to mitigate the shock pressure and impulse.

Various embodiments of a spiral shaped element and embedded wavy materials are disclosed for use in a shock mitigating material to dissipate the energy associated with the impact of an object. The shock mitigating material can be used in helmets, bumpers, bullet proof vests, military armor, and other applications. One embodiment, among others, is a shock mitigating material having a plurality of spiral shaped elements, each having a circular cross section, and each being tapered from a large outside end to a small inside end but also having an embedded wavy material that can induce shear waves to mitigate the shock pressure and impulse.

An armor component produced from a 7xxx series aluminum alloy, wherein the aluminum alloy consists essentially of: 8.4 wt. %≦Zn≦10.5 wt. %; 1.3 wt. %≦Mg≦2 wt. %; 1.2 wt. %≦Cu≦2 wt. %; at least one dispersoid forming element with a total dispersoid forming element content higher than 0.05 wt. %; the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities.

An armor component produced from a 7xxx series aluminum alloy, wherein the aluminum alloy consists essentially of: 8.4 wt. %≦Zn≦10.5 wt. %; 1.3 wt. %≦Mg≦2 wt. %; 1.2 wt. %≦Cu≦2 wt. %; at least one dispersoid forming element with a total dispersoid forming element content higher than 0.05 wt. %; the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities.

According to the invention there is provided a fibrous armor material for dissipating the kinetic energy of a moving object which is impregnated with a shear thickening fluid, in which the shear thickening fluid includes particles of a thickening agent suspended in a liquid, and the volume fraction of the thickening agent in the shear thickening fluid is selected so that the shear thickening fluid has a viscosity-shear stress characteristic substantially corresponding to curve B or lying between curve B and curve D as shown in FIG. 2.

According to the invention there is provided a fibrous armor material for dissipating the kinetic energy of a moving object which is impregnated with a shear thickening fluid, in which the shear thickening fluid includes particles of a thickening agent suspended in a liquid, and the volume fraction of the thickening agent in the shear thickening fluid is selected so that the shear thickening fluid has a viscosity-shear stress characteristic substantially corresponding to curve B or lying between curve B and curve D as shown in FIG. 2.

An armor component including a body having a first portion including calcium boride compounds include non-stoichiometric calcium boride (CaB.sub.x) and stoichiometric calcium boride (CaB.sub.6) and having a density of at least about 80% theoretical density. In one aspect, the first portion can include a first phase comprising silicon carbide (SiC) and a second phase comprising calcium boride (CaB.sub.6). In another aspect, the first portion can further include a third phase comprising boron carbide (B.sub.4C).

A supercapacitor-like device is described that uses a porous, conductive foam as the electrodes. After the device is charged, an explosive wave front can be used to remove electrolyte from the metal foam. This creates a large net charge on each electrode, which will readily flow through a load placed across the electrodes. The removal of charge can potentially occur on a time scale of microseconds, allowing a supercapacitor to be used in pulsed power applications. The creation of this net charge requires significant energy, meaning this concept may also be suitable for removing kinetic energy from objects.

A supercapacitor-like device is described that uses a porous, conductive foam as the electrodes. After the device is charged, an explosive wave front can be used to remove electrolyte from the metal foam. This creates a large net charge on each electrode, which will readily flow through a load placed across the electrodes. The removal of charge can potentially occur on a time scale of microseconds, allowing a supercapacitor to be used in pulsed power applications. The creation of this net charge requires significant energy, meaning this concept may also be suitable for removing kinetic energy from objects.