Lightweight Layered Protection Systems for Missile Launchers and Canisters

The research objective is to develop Modeling and Simulation (M&S) tools to accurately predict the performance of new state-of-the-art material systems as protection for high value missiles deployed in their launchers or canisters. The focus is on adapting multi-layered novel and non-traditional material technologies to improve protection against penetration and fragment impacts, focused detonation hazards and fires (slow and fast heating coupled with penetration). Predictive M&S and underlying damage and ignition response assessment capabilities will be used to: characterize trade-offs in layered material penetration and thermal resistance; predict the degree and extent of damage from penetration threat and predict altered heat transfer paths and thermal response of a layered protection system; and quantify the uncertainty related to the protection system with respect to avoiding violent reaction. The outcome is a M&S-based methodology for design of lightweight layered protection systems that will benefit sea- and land-based missile high value missile systems against ballistic and fragment impacts and focused detonation hazards (specifically, RPGs) during operational use or transportation in hostile environments.