2015-2016 Assessment of the Army Research Laboratory Interim Report (2016) / Chapter Skim
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3 Sciences for Lethality and Protection
3 Sciences for Lethality and Protection
Pages 32-44
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From page 32... ...
All models need experimental validation, and all experimental programs would benefit from increased use of statistical data evaluation and statistical experimental design. Computational mechanics work on battlefield injury mechanisms and human response to threats and on protective equipment, including the mechanics of fibers and fiber composites, are being combined with experimental efforts to characterize, validate, and verify the computational results.
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From page 33... ...
While the pig skull work was a reasonable approach, it is unclear if the pig skull is relevant to the critical human skull issues that need to be understood. The computational efforts in the human biomechanics area are somewhat behind the state of the art in computational mechanics of soft tissue.
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From page 34... ...
The program in battlefield mechanisms, human response, and human protective equipment is conducted by a strong cadre of scientists, and a credible program is under way. Summary of Accomplishments Battlefield injuries are an important area of research for ARL, because a better understanding of the mechanisms of injury is vital to improving protective measures.
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From page 35... ...
DIRECTED ENERGY The ARL S&T campaign plans 2015-2035 and technical strategy documents 1,2 categorize directed energy (DE) as a focused area under the much broader category of electronic warfare (EW)
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From page 36... ...
RF-Enabled Detection Location and IED Neutralization Evaluation The scientific quality of RF-Enabled Detection Location and IED Neutralization Evaluation (REDLINE) research is comparable to that at leading federal, university, and industrial laboratories, both nationally and internationally.
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From page 37... ...
Adaptive Techniques for Advanced Radar Tracking and Optimization The scientific quality of the research is basically sound in the context of unclassified university research, but it is not up to the standard of leading federal, university, and industrial laboratories working in this area. There appeared to be little or no awareness of existing, similar work in advanced radar development other than some unclassified university research.
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From page 38... ...
Investigators working in the hostile fire detection area have developed diagnostic, modeling, and prototype hardware capability of detecting and geolocating hostile fire for enhanced soldier survivability. The work addresses three major areas in disrupting the lethality chain: threat signature characterization and identification; analysis of intervening and interfering material; and sensor systems response.
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From page 39... ...
The investigators have taken the work from innovation to field prototype. In the program developing adaptive techniques for advanced radar tracking and optimization, the concept involves a radar pre-look at the spectral signal environment prior to each dwell and uses algorithms to select quieter frequency gaps to form appropriate waveforms that minimize received interference while retaining required waveform resolution.
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From page 40... ...
The combination of modeling and experiments is essential in many cases, but there are circumstances in which it is appropriate to focus on a single mode of inquiry: experiments carried out as discovery science; modeling to develop an understanding of scenarios that are impossible or prohibitively expensive to investigate experimentally; development of new modeling approaches and techniques that promise to enhance predictive capabilities of ballistic phenomena; and development of new experimental methods that promise to provide a better understanding of the physical mechanisms underlying ballistic phenomena. ARL described a ceramic armor concept that was made possible by a previously developed experimental technique aimed at enhancing a basic measurement capability.
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From page 41... ...
The multiscale modeling work will likely become increasingly important for modeling complicated material behavior. There was evidence that the researchers' computational work was limited by the available classified computing capability.
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From page 42... ...
The science of energetics in the context of armor and adaptive protection may be significantly different from that science in the context of warheads, so the ARL group working on armor and adaptive protection may benefit from a workshop on energetic materials for reactive armor. They might also encourage the Army Research Office to establish a Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative in this area.
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From page 43... ...
battlefield injury mechanisms, human response to threats, and human protective equipment; (2) directed energy programs; and (3)
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From page 44... ...
A focused ARL DE program would benefit from a systems-level study addressing future Army missions in which DE could play a role and in which DE effectiveness and alternatives to DE are traded off. A highlight of the overall program in DE is the project on adaptive and scalable high-power-phase-locked fiber laser arrays.
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