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| Science |
| A Humvee less susceptable to magnetic mines (and biodegradable, too) |
| 2007-09-20 |
| Next week, the US Army will begin testing a new Humvee that has a body and frame made completely from composite materials, Fiberglass, balsa wood, foam and carbon reinforcements. Conventionally, the Army has battled with how to protect Humvees from mines because ironically, adding more armor to the vehicles just weighs them down (and bring them closer to the mines). The solution was to build a composite frame that makes the Humvee 900lbs lighter (or about 10%). Beyond the weight savings, the other advantage is that the Humvee is reinforced with different composite concoctions where the vehicle needs the most protection from mines (the rear). Since mines are the biggest killers of US troops in Iraq, such re-engineering should save lives if field testing goes well. |
| Posted by:Gary and the Samoyeds |
| #10 Sounds about right with all the up-armoring. They are murder on ball joints I know. They replace them every few weeks or something like that. I would think that the impulse from the bomb blast would in a way be harder on the heavier humvees because they aren't buffeted around so much, which means the armor has to take the full punch instead of being able to reduce the force by backing away from the blast. This would be worst from the bottom I suppose where it would take at least 9000# force to get the vehicle to even start to move. It might not be fun to be thrown around, but I think it would be worse if the bomb blast breaks into the cabin. |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-09-20 15:51 |
| #9 A Humvee is 9,000 pounds? Ummm, 2000 pounds is a ton, makes a Humvee around 4 1/2 tons, Hokay? |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-09-20 13:17 |
| #8 And you probably can't smoke in it. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2007-09-20 13:09 |
| #7 |
| Posted by: lotp 2007-09-20 11:46 |
| #6 900lbs lighter (or about 10%). A Humvee is 9,000 pounds? |
| Posted by: John J. Simmins 2007-09-20 11:46 |
| #5 Fuel on the battlefield's always and issue. Lower fuel needs --> easier logistics. |
| Posted by: lotp 2007-09-20 11:45 |
| #4 The vehicles will be available from a major politically-connected supplier within 20 years for a mere $100 million each. Plus tax, title and dealer prep. The way things are going, it will be a supplier in Beijing represented by a guy named Hsu. Otherwise, Halliburton and Cheney. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-09-20 07:20 |
| #3 Oh, oh!! And reducing the carbon footprint! |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-09-20 06:55 |
| #2 Ten percent lighter ought to translate to improved gas mileage, too, significantly reducing the cost of the occupation. ;-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-09-20 03:51 |
| #1 Iraqi neighborhoods along major supply routes (MSR) which aid and abet VBIED bombers THAT HAVE BEEN CARPET BOMBED with B-52's ..... also make US Army vehicles much "less susceptable" to attack! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-09-20 02:05 |