A porous metamaterial is disclosed, comprising a matrix (101) having a plurality of voids (103) therein, wherein a content of interest (104) is trapped within each of at least part of the voids (103), detached from the matrix (101), thereby providing a respective unit-cell (100) of the metamaterial, with an intended predetermined property associated with the presence of the content of interest (104) within the at least one void (103). A variety of applications of the disclosed metamaterials are presented, including armors having either non-Newtonian fluids or magnetic particles confined within the voids as a content of interest. Upon subjecting the magnetic particles to a rotating magnetic field, the magnetic particles spin within the voids and gain angular momentum, thereby improving the resistance of the armor against penetration. Systems and methods for manufacturing porous metamaterial units having contents of interest confined within voids therein, are also disclosed.

A relatively lightweight, modular, blast control system utilizes a plurality of fabric panels that may be joined to form a matrix to protect or control a blast.

A relatively lightweight, modular, blast control system utilizes a plurality of fabric panels that may be joined to form a matrix to protect or control a blast.

Embodiments of the present systems and apparatus may provide vehicle armor materials and systems that generate electricity from impact and blast energy. For example, in an embodiment, a protective apparatus may comprise a layer of armor and a layer comprising a plurality of electrical generating devices abutting the layer of armor and configured so that energy applied to the layer of armor is transferred to the plurality of electrical generating devices causing the plurality of electrical generating device to generate electrical energy.

Embodiments of the present systems and apparatus may provide vehicle armor materials and systems that generate electricity from impact and blast energy. For example, in an embodiment, a protective apparatus may comprise a layer of armor and a layer comprising a plurality of electrical generating devices abutting the layer of armor and configured so that energy applied to the layer of armor is transferred to the plurality of electrical generating devices causing the plurality of electrical generating device to generate electrical energy.

An explosive reactive armor (ERA) enclosure for an ERA tile includes a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls extending from the bottom, where the plurality of sidewalls are continuous with each other and with the bottom so as to define an internal volume. The plurality of sidewalls are formed from a fiber-reinforced composite material having a plurality of plies of fiber sheet material. Additionally, a sidewall seam defined by abutting edges of the first ply is offset from a sidewall seam defined by abutting edges of the second ply. Methods of manufacturing ERA enclosures, including applying wrap layers and forming attachment structures for securing the fiber-reinforced composite ERA enclosure to an armor element, are also described. The composite enclosure is inexpensive and lightweight and improves the dynamic capabilities of armored vehicles using such ERA tiles.

An explosive reactive armor (ERA) enclosure for an ERA tile includes a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls extending from the bottom, where the plurality of sidewalls are continuous with each other and with the bottom so as to define an internal volume. The plurality of sidewalls are formed from a fiber-reinforced composite material having a plurality of plies of fiber sheet material. Additionally, a sidewall seam defined by abutting edges of the first ply is offset from a sidewall seam defined by abutting edges of the second ply. Methods of manufacturing ERA enclosures, including applying wrap layers and forming attachment structures for securing the fiber-reinforced composite ERA enclosure to an armor element, are also described. The composite enclosure is inexpensive and lightweight and improves the dynamic capabilities of armored vehicles using such ERA tiles.

A new kind of active protection system (APS) called SNAP (scalable networked active protection) will be a light and affordable means of protecting vehicles and infrastructure against rockets and missiles. The APS system is built from modules, each of which is itself a stand-alone APS. Since each unit is a stand-alone APS, the only single points of failure are the User Interface (UI) in the vehicle cab and the Data/Power Router (DPR). SNAP instead takes advantage of each module protecting a relatively small area to employ vastly lower cost components. In addition, each SNAP module is disposable in that when its countermunition is initiated, the entire module is consumed and subsequently replaced in the field. This approach allows the system to be very compact and lightweight.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to selectively stiffenable assemblies, protective garments and systems that include such selectively stiffenable assemblies for protecting one or more body portions of an individual wearing the protective garment.

A frustum embedded fabricated composite protective structure is provided, including a restraint frame, a back plate, an infill block and a buffer block. The restraint frame is provided with a plurality of mounting holes matching with the shape of the infill block, the restraint frame is arranged on the back plate, the infill block is in a frustum shape. The buffer block and the infill block are installed in the mounting hole of the restraint frame, the buffer block is arranged on the smaller end of the infill block, and the infill block is wedged into the mounting hole of the restraint frame through a wedge surface mating. Because this protective structure is assembled by multiple restraint frames and infill blocks, under the prestress restraint of partition blocks, the damage range after penetration or explosion will be significantly reduced, and it can withstand multiple blows.