Reactive Stiffening Armor System

[Grey Havoc]

In other words bulletproof vests utilising what is in effect ERA.

Reactive stiffening armor system - Southwest Research Institute

A reactive armor structure having an outer layer and a reactive element adjacent to and integral with the outer layer is provided. The reactive element provides an amount of support to the outer layer

www.freepatentsonline.com

Exploding Bullet-Proof Vest: Worst Armor Idea Ever?

This just may be the least safe protective garment ever: an exploding bullet-proof vest. You might have thought that jackets with built-in explosives were strictly for suicide bombers. But this design, known as the Reactive Stiffening Armor System, was patented by the Southwest Research...

www.wired.com

Might work with armored NBC suits and even infantry exoskeleton systems. But tactical vests?!

I think I might have heard about this in passing years ago. Came across it again today via a cameo in the Danger Zone One webcomic. (Note: Both the linked page and the comic in general are somewhat NSFW.)

 

[stealthflanker]

Well, i'm curious why it can't be done with other "bulging" material like Rubber ?

 

[Grey Havoc]

Weight to strength issues perhaps? Not only relating to the passive protection side of things but also maintaining basic vest integrity when one or more active protective elements are expended?

 

[TomS]

In other words bulletproof vests utilising what is in effect ERA.

Reactive stiffening armor system - Southwest Research Institute

A reactive armor structure having an outer layer and a reactive element adjacent to and integral with the outer layer is provided. The reactive element provides an amount of support to the outer layer

www.freepatentsonline.com

Exploding Bullet-Proof Vest: Worst Armor Idea Ever?

This just may be the least safe protective garment ever: an exploding bullet-proof vest. You might have thought that jackets with built-in explosives were strictly for suicide bombers. But this design, known as the Reactive Stiffening Armor System, was patented by the Southwest Research...

www.wired.com

View attachment 638190

Might work with armored NBC suits and even infantry exoskeleton systems. But tactical vests?!

I think I might have heard about this in passing years ago. Came across it again today via a cameo in the Danger Zone One webcomic. (Note: Both the linked page and the comic in general are somewhat NSFW.)

This is exactly the sort of thing referred to as non-explosive reactive armor. Wired assumes that any "reactive material:" is an explosive, but it's just not so.

Non-explosive reactive armor - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[riggerrob]

Armored vests need materials that are flexible at slow speeds, but stiffen when hit by high-velocity projectiles.
Bullet velocities are easy to predict but shrapnel arrives at a vast array of speeds. Shrapnel can kill as many as 40 percent of infantry before they come within sight of the enemy (Canadian Army experience during 1944 and 1945)