Lightweight IED Blast and Momentum Bypass/Mitigation

Although vehicle occupants now survive most of the IED and roadside bomb explosion events, numerous injuries to the spine, neck, and head are still reported. Some sources are reporting that the resulting traumatic brain injury has become the signature wound of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. This condition is related to the shock waves and momentum that is transferred to the vehicle during a blast event and the corresponding motion experienced by the occupants within a MRAP vehicle. Therefore, a mitigation system is needed that can attenuate the effects of the blast wave impinging on the vehicle undercarriage and redirect the gases and soil away from the vehicle. This reduction is sought regardless of where the explosion originates, whether beneath or to the side of the vehicle. The proposed Engineering & Scientific Innovations (ESI) solution utilizes a combination of proven methodologies of shockwave interactions, and particulate evacuation. Through the proper arrangement of shock mitigating elements, an incident blast wave is a greatly attenuated. The flow of gases and soil ejecta is then directed through a passage to the outside edge of the vehicle and vented, greatly reducing the pressure and momentum that is imparted to the underbody of the vehicle.