A Study on the Effective V-shaped Hull Underbody Structure for Anti-Tank Mine Protection
Light armored vehicles used for transport and reconnaissance have suffered extensive damage due to the prevalence of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Despite armor reinforcements, conventional vehicles like the HMMWV remained vulnerable to under-belly blasts, necessitating the development of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle by the U.S. Marine Corps in 2004. The MRAP's core innovation lies in its V-shaped hull, designed to disperse explosion shocks and maximize crew survivability in asymmetric and urban warfare. This shift redefined tactical vehicles as specialized platforms prioritizing protection over mere mobility. This paper investigates the optimization and effectiveness of the V-shaped hull structure to enhance vehicle survivability against explosive threats. Numerical Analysis were performed to predict the protective performance of V-shaped hull, using the commercial simulation software LS-Dyna. The interaction between blast pressure and the structure was simulated using ALE and FSI methods. To enhance the blast protection performance of the V-shaped hull, DRS and Add on Armor were installed, and the protective performance was compared based on the thickness of the DRS, as well as whether additional armor was installed and its location.