REACTIVE PROTECTION FOR HARDENED FACILITIES

THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TO EXPLORE THE WORTHINESS OF EMPLOYING REACTIVE PROTECTION FOR STRUCTURES SUBJECTED TO THE EFFECTS OF MODERN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS. THE REACTIVE PROTECTION CONSISTS OF HIGH EXPLOSIVE (HE) CHARGES EMBEDDED IN PROTECTIVE LAYERS. THE SYSTEM IS INTENDED FOR DISTRUBING THE PENETRATION CAPABILITIES OF MODERN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS, CONTROLLING THE MAGNITUDE OF LOADS ON THE STRUCTURE, AND/OR REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF SHOCK WAVES TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL. MOST INERT OR PASSIVE PROTECTION CONCEPTS SUFFER FROM SEVERE LIMITATIONS. MAINLY, THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF ADAPTING TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS NEW WEAPON SYSTEMS, AND/OR NEW COMBAT OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR WHICH THEY WERE NOT DESIGNED. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN THAT THE COST OF UPGRADING PASSIVE DEFENSE SYSTEMS IS USUALLY VERY HIGH, AND THEREFORE, IT COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE TO EXPLORE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NOVEL HARDENING CONCEPTS.