From: Steve Grammont (islander@midmaine.com)
Date: Wed Dec 08 2004 - 10:23:17 PST
Rick,
>What happens to the plate when you detonate a IED
>underneath it?
Of course it depends on the size of the IED. For the big ones it is
clear there isn't much that can be done that will help even a fully
armored vehicle.
>1. You now have a large steel plate that can be hurled
>upwards against the bottom of the vehicle and the
>passengers that will probably do more damage then the
>inital blast alone
Not true. Same force, no armor plate, means the bottom of the vehicle
shredding and flying right up and through the occupants. Not to mention
whatever the bomb has for shrapnel. Simple laws of physics. Therefore,
anything that can deflect, absorb, or otherwise dissipate the force of
the blast and blunt shrapnel from it is a good thing. In reality it
might not make a difference (dead is dead), but it certainly can't make
the situation worse.
>2. The flat area will amplify the blast effect.
No, it will deflect it (if possible) back downwards and two the sides
instead of allowing the full force to go upwards. If the plate has
sandbags above it they too will absorb the energy. Whatever makes it
through the plate will be degraded in terms of its remaining energy. The
problem is that whatever makes it through will most likely still have
lethal power. But no plate would only mean more stuff with more
lethality potential.
Again, the problem comes from the type of threat. Armor plating on the
sides won't do anything to help against RPGs and other hollow charge
explosives. Nor will a practical armor plating solution on the underside
likely change the survivability of a massive IED (say, 500lbs). But
armor plating can help against the smaller IEDs that would otherwise mean
serious wounds or (likely) death without the plating.
Steve
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