This proposal designed and manufactured an innovative shield to protect critical components of an aircraft against high velocity shrapnel from an engine burst.

The concept of the shield design was based on in house modelling capabilities of Imperial consultant to use different fibres acting as membranes through the thickness of the ballistic structure. In addition to this, these fibre layers are interlaced by foam to provide optimum performance. This use of almost dry layers within foam sub-laminates was investigated at the modeling stage. The specific polymer used  heavily depended on the temperature requirements as well as other aircraft integration constraints and hence subjected to more detailed discussions. The manufacturing was provisionally done by press with matrix film layers. The specific matrix used was again subject to the temperature requirements.

The proposal had come from a close collaboration between the Imperial College Consultants and Swerea SICOMP. It was therefore the result of the combined skills in manufacturing structural composites for the defence and aeronautical industry as well as specific ballistic design skills. Both institutes have the necessary skills, experience and equipment to design and manufacture a successful shield. As both these institutes are non profit research establishments actively working to advance composite technology, the materials and techniques have been chosen based on the type of treat and the aircraft integration constraints and there is no constrain to use any one particular material supplier. Publishing and dissemination of the results was also not a problem if so desired.