Mine and Blast Protection from ABBS
Current blast protection for armoured vehicles is almost universally based on the use of:
- V shaped hulls
- High ground clearance
- High weight
- High centre of gravity
Unfortunately, this approach has its disadvantages:
- Instability, leading to poor handling and roll-over accidents.
- Difficult access from ground level.
- A larger target.
- More difficult recovery.
- Increased weight due to larger surface area to protect.
- Very heavy fuel consumption
The ABBS approach is to offer mine and blast protection which is based on a flat bottom, which can be fitted onto light armoured and civilian vehicles.
Modified Snatch Land Rover Test Vehicle
This test uses a 6kg TNT Equivalent charge 100mm under the surface of moist soil.
The snatch land-rover is a common light-armoured vehicle and is adapted by the addition of a flat ABBS CRBP (Energy Absorbing Sandwich Belly Plate) to provide protection against the mine blast; and VGAM™ active countermeasures to prevent Vehicle Global Acceleration and ensure that the vehicle remains on the ground.
The VAFS™ (Active Floor system) ensures that the floor is pulled away from the vehicle occupants in order to prevent transmission of shock into the lower limbs.
The test rig is set with the ABBS belly plate at 300mm above soil surface.
The following technologies can then be seen in action:
- CRBP (Energy Absorbing Sandwich Belly Plate) – based on a flat sandwich structure,the whole volume of the belly plate is involved in absorbing energy, reducing local deformation levels and enabling fitting the design to lightweight commercial vehicles with low ground clearance whilst also avoiding the negative effects of raised centre of mass on military types. This forms a passive belly plate with 15mm Hardox 450 main plate. The CRBP minimises deformation, prevents contact with floor and fragment penetration.
- VGAM™ function – two 7kNs LRM™ countermeasures which eliminate G-load injuries – 100kg system weight.
- EFI initiator runs in safe mode, unpowered until sensor/control system recognises a mine blast requiring a response..
- VAFS™ (Vehicle Active Floor System) prevents lower limb injuries due to floor shock – 10kg system weight
We used various instruments to measure the results:
- Hybrid III secured in Jankel Mk 3 Crew Seat
- DRI Device – Direct mechanical measurement of dynamic response index in standard Snatch driver’s (non-blast) seat.
- Accelerometers and LVDTs into off-board data acquisition system
- Blast Gauge system sensors around ATD at head and chest height.
- Five High-Speed Video Cameras
The Final Result following the test using ABBS Mine and Blast Protection Systems
Driver’s door closed and latched normally after test.
No significant body distortion
The composite beam structure was intact and the Hardox 450 faceplate showed only 30mm indentation above charge and no penetration.
The standard driver’s seat measured only DRI 16 (below the injury threshold)
Jump height limited to only 0.3 metres.
How can the ABBS Mine and Blast Protection System Benefit You?
We continue to work with the US Army and the UK MOD on development and proving the system, and welcome further enquiries from armed vehicle manufacturers around the globe.
The latest version of the ABBS CRBP passive belly plate design has shown that not only can this be used as a flat belly plate to provide protection for civilians and aid agencies working in former war zones, but it is also potentially suitable as an upgrade for existing MRAP V-hulls.
As an upgrade, to V-hulls, the energy absorbing technologies of the CRBP can mitigate the initial peak shockwave loads and increase blast capability to a level above what exists already. This would result in only a 50mm decrease in ground clearance and fairly insignificant weight addition.
Shock transfer into the main vehicle structure should be reduced as well as making it less likely that belly plate failure will occur due to the peak loading.
Our mitigation systems should help reduce the incidence of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in personnel subject to an underbelly mine blast, even where the hull is not penetrated by the blast.
If you are interested – then please Contact Us
Detailed Overview of ABBS Armoured Vehicle Protection Systems
We offer a suite of both active and passive systems which can be fitted to armoured vehicles to fully protect vehicle occupants from an under belly blast. Our VGAM™ (Vehicle Global Acceleration Mitigation) can be retro-fitted to a range of vehicles to offer the ultimate in protection against the effects of acceleration and slam-down when an armoured vehicle is thrown into the air due to a mine blast and has been successfully tested by the US Army.
We can work alongside other aerospace companies who provide active protection systems to ensure that fulll 360° protection is offered to any armoured vehicle.
For a detailed overview of our Blast Protection Systems for Armoured Vehicles, please view our Advanced Armoured Vehicle page.
T: +44 (0)7989 381057E: info@advanced-blast.com
T: +44 (0)7989 381057E: info@advanced-blast.com