MultiObjective optimization of the design of a protective components to chassis protection module for unmanned armored vehicles

Armored unmanned vehicles are common targets on battlefields and face many complex threats, such as explosions, gunfire, and drones. Additionally, the threat of explosions that originate underneath the vehicles is a major factor in armored vehicle incapacitation. The underbody explosion protection of lightweight, high-mobility armored vehicles has become a key issue in the design of armored vehicles around the world. To solve this problem, a protective-components-to-chassis (PCTC) protection module was developed during this study. In this design scheme, the protective components were integrated with the chassis to reduce the total number of components. In addition, the total component weight was 37.9% less than that in a traditional protection assembly design. Numerical calculations performed during this study indicated that the proposed protection module is more effective than conventional protective components in armored vehicles. Additionally, the protection effects of the proposed module and a conventional module were compared for equivalent TNT blast impacts. It was shown that the proposed protection module weighed less and exhibited a better protection performance than the conventional protection module. Multi-objective optimization design was also conducted when the protection performance and weight were the optimization objectives. Through the design of experiment (DOE) technique, the effects of the protection module faceplate thickness, beam thickness, tube thickness, and tube diameter on the blast resistance performance of the protection module were analyzed, then the optimal design solution was selected. Finally, the explosion protection properties of the optimal solution were further demonstrated experimentally. The results of this study provide guidance for the design of underbody protective components for armored vehicles, which are especially useful in the design of lightweight and high-mobility unmanned armored vehicles with high protection performance and total weight requirements.