WO2008105889A2

WO2008105889A2 - Strike face for a ballistic and blast panel

Info

Publication number: WO2008105889A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/070488
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen A. Misencik; Grey P. Chapman
Original assignee: Martin Marietta Materials Inc
Current assignee: Martin Marietta Materials Inc
Priority date: 2006-06-09
Filing date: 2007-06-06
Publication date: 2008-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2008-12-09
Also published as: WO2008105889A3; EP2032935A2

Abstract

A strike face (112) for a ballistic and blast panel (110) comprises a layer of ballistic resistant material (60) secured to a mesh (40). The strike face (112) may be coupled to a fiber-reinforced polymer backing panel (14).

Description

STRIKE FACE FOR A BALLISTIC AND BLAST PANEL

[0001] This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S. C. § 119(e), of U.S.

Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/804,414 filed June 9, 2006 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to ballistic and blast panels for use in the construction of armor. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a blast panel with a ballistic strike face used to protect persons and property from arms and explosives.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0003] Armor is used to protect individuals and equipment from ballistic rounds, blast forces and shrapnel. Such armor may be embodied as a number of panels constructed of ballistic and/or blast resistant materials such as ballistic aluminum, ballistic steel, ceramic, granite, marble, or polymer concrete.

[0004] There are a number of standards for rating the performance characteristics of armor. One such standard is UL 752, 10th Edition (hereinafter "UL 752") entitled "Bullet Resisting Equipment and published by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. of Northbrook, Illinois on March 10, 2000. Another standard is NIJ Standard 0108.01 (hereinafter referred to by that name) entitled "Ballistic Resistant Protective Materials" and published by the National Institute of Justice in September 1985. Each of UL 752 and NIJ Standard 0108.01 is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The V50 Ballistic Limit Test velocity may also be indicative of the performance characteristics of the armor.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0005] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a ballistic strike face comprises an inner layer of woven mesh and an outer ballistic resistant layer secured to the layer of mesh. The woven mesh may include a plurality of first strands oriented in a first direction and a plurality of second strands oriented in a direction generally perpendicular to the first strands. The ballistic strike face may be oriented such that a surface of the ballistic resistant layer is positioned for first contact from a ballistic round. The ballistic resistant layer may comprise ballistic steel, ballistic aluminum, ceramic, polymer concrete, marble, or granite. In some embodiments, the mesh comprises steel cord. In some embodiments, the mesh may comprise multiple layers of steel cord. In other embodiments, the mesh may comprise an E-glass woven roving material. In some embodiments, the mesh may comprise multiple layers of E- glass woven roving material. In some embodiments, the mesh may comprise both E-glass woven roving and steel cord.

[0006] The layers of E-glass woven roving material may have a thickness of about 0.5 inches (1.3 centimeters). The ballistic resistant layer may comprise granite having a thickness of about 2.0 inches (5.1 centimeters). In some embodiments, the ballistic resistant layer may comprise granite having a thickness of about 1.6 inches (4.1 centimeters). [0007] In some embodiments, a first mesh may be secured on a first side of the ballistic resistant layer and a second mesh may be positioned on a side of the ballistic resistant layer opposite the first mesh.

[0008] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a ballistic and blast panel may comprise a fiber-reinforced polymer backing panel, and a strike face having a first layer of mesh with a ballistic resistant layer secured to the first layer of mesh such that the ballistic strike face is oriented with the first layer of mesh secured to the first sheet of the backing panel. The ballistic resistant layer may comprise granite and the mesh may comprise an E- glass woven roving.

[0009] The mesh may comprise multiple layers with each layer having a thickness of about 0.5 inches (1.3 centimeters). In some embodiments, the strike face may further comprise a second layer of mesh secured to the ballistic resistant layer on a side opposite the first layer of mesh. The second layer of mesh may comprise E-glass woven roving as well. [0010] In the second aspect of the present disclosure, the panel may comprise a fiber- reinforced polymer backing panel having fiber-reinforced polymer first and second sheets and a core sandwiched therebetween. The backing panel may further comprise a plurality of fiber insertions extending from the first sheet through the core to the second sheet. [0011] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, a ballistic and blast panel may comprise a fiber-reinforced polymer backing panel, and a strike face having a first layer including a mesh of steel cords and a mesh of E-glass woven roving secured to the backing panel and an outer layer of granite secured to the first layer. In some embodiments, the strike face may further comprise a second layer of mesh secured to the layer of granite on the surface opposite the backing panel.

[0012] In some embodiments, the steel cords may comprise 3 x 0.20 + 6 x 0.35 high- tension steel. In other embodiments, the first layer of mesh may comprise a layer steel cord fabric interposed between two layers of E-glass woven roving. In some embodiments, the backing panel may include fiber-reinforced polymer first and second sheets, a core sandwiched between the first and second sheets, and a plurality of fiber insertions extending from the first sheet through the core to the second sheet

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ballistic and blast panel;

[0014] Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a strike face of the ballistic and blast panel embodied as a sheet;

[0015] Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a ballistic and blast panel having a strike face embodied in two layers;

[0016] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a ballistic and blast panel having a strike face which includes a wire mesh covering;

[0017] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a strike face for a ballistic and blast panel including a granite layer with a wire mesh on either side of the granite layer;

[0018] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of strike face with layers of woven roving dispersed in polymer concrete;

[0019] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of strike face including layers of wire mesh and woven roving covering a ballistic resistant layer; [0020] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a ballistic and blast panel having a strike face comprising layers of wire mesh, woven roving, and a ballistic resistant layer; [0021] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of still yet another embodiment of strike face including woven roving covering tiled layers of ballistic resistant layer and granite; [0022] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a helical steel cord;

[0023] Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a three-dimensional fiber- reinforced panel having insertion spacings which vary to vary the density of the insertions; [0024] Fig. 12 is a top view of a layer of fabric formed from lengths of steel cords secured by a weft of filler yarns;

[0025] Fig. 13 is a top view of a mesh of steel cords formed by placing a layer of fabric shown in Fig. 12 on top of another layer of fabric with the lengths of steel cords oriented at ninety degrees between the layers;

[0026] Fig. 14 is a top view of a mesh of woven roving comprising threads of E-glass;

[0027] Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of yet still another embodiment of ballistic and blast panel wherein a mesh of woven roving forms the strike face; [0028] Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a strike face tested under the V-50 method, the strike face comprising a layer of granite backed by a layer of mesh of E-glass woven roving; and

[0029] Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a strike face tested under the V-50 method, the strike face comprising a layer of granite backed by a two layers of mesh of E-glass woven roving.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives following within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0031] An aspect of the present disclosure relates to ballistic and blast protection panels including a strike face. The strike face comprises a ballistic facing such as ballistic steel or the like. The strike face is secured to a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) backing panel. Such panels may be used in the construction of vehicles, perimeter walls, shelters, buildings, and the like. Generally, as shall be discussed in detail herein, a ballistic strike face is secured to an FRP panel in lieu of having the strike face secured to, and fully supported by, other conventional primary structures such as steel or concrete. In certain embodiments, the strike face may be used in combination with a three-dimensional (3-D) FRP backing panel, although two-dimensional (2-D) panels are also contemplated.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 1, a ballistic and blast panel 10 includes a strike face 12 secured to an FRP backing panel 14. The FRP backing panel 14 may be formed of a polymer matrix composite material which includes a reinforcing agent and a polymer resin. The FRP backing panel 14 may be embodied as any type of FRP structure. Examples of such structures include, but are not limited to, a solid laminate or a sandwich panel (e.g., a panel having upper and lower skins with a core therebetween). In certain embodiments, the FRP backing panel 14 provides the primary structural support for the strike face 12, although other structural support mechanisms may be used in combination with the panel 14. As alluded to above, the FRP backing panel 14 may be embodied as either a 2-D or 3-D structure (e.g., a 2- D or 3-D laminate or panel). [0033] The matrix may include a thermosetting resin, although thermoplastic resins are also contemplated for use. Examples of thermosetting resins which may be used include, but are not limited to, unsaturated polyesters, vinyl esters, polyurethanes, epoxies, phenolics, and mixtures and blends thereof.

[0034] The reinforcing agent may include E-glass fibers, although other reinforcements such as S-glass, carbon, KEVLAR®, aramids, metal, UHMW (ultra high molecular weight) materials, high modulus organic fibers (e.g. aromatic polyamides, polybenzamidazoles, and aromatic polyimides), and other organic fibers (e.g. polyethylene and nylon) may be used. Blends and hybrids of the various reinforcing materials may be used. Other suitable composite materials may be utilized including whiskers and fibers such as boron, aluminum silicate, and basalt.

[0035] In some embodiments, the FRP backing panel 14 is embodied as a sandwich panel and the core type may include, but is not limited to, balsa wood, foam, open-cell material, closed-cell material, and various types of honeycomb structure. [0036] The FRP backing panel 14 may be embodied as any of the structures disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,794,402; 6,023,806; 6,044,607; 6,070,378; 6,081,955; 6,108,998; 6,467,118 B2; 6;645,333; 6,676,785, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. It should be appreciated that the structures disclosed in the above-identified patents may be sized, scaled, dimensioned, orientated, or otherwise configured in any desired manner to fit the needs of a given design of the FRP backing panel 14. [0037] In the illustrative embodiment, the strike face 12 includes ballistic steel. In other embodiments, other materials such as ballistic aluminum and other metallic facings (including both ballistic grades as well as conventional grades) may be used. One such material is Armor Gard which is commercially available from Heflin Steel of Phoenix Arizona.

[0038] Certain steels currently used by the military are documented in the following specifications: MIL-DTL-46177, MIL-A-12560, and MIL-A-46100. Although not limited to these armor steels, any material meeting any one or more of these specifications is contemplated for use in the construction of the strike face 12. In addition to other sources, such armor steels may be acquired from Heflin Steel; Clifton Steel Company of Twinsburg, Ohio; Algoma Steel, Incorporated of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario; Firth Rixson, Limited of East Hartford, Connecticut; and International Steel Group Incorporated of Richfield, Ohio (formerly Bethlehem Lukens Plate). [0039] As shown in Fig. 1, the strike face 12 may be embodied as tiles (including relatively small tiles). As shown in Fig. 2, the strike face 12 may be embodied as larger sheet sections. Other configurations are also contemplated. Moreover, the strike face 12 may be embodied as more than one layer of material. For example, multiple sheets or tiles of ballistic steel may be secured the FRP backing panel 14. In one specific exemplary embodiment, shown in Fig. 3, the strike face 12 is embodied as two layers 12a, 12b of ballistic steel. In a further specific exemplary embodiment, the ballistic level of the two steel sheets differs from one another.

[0040] The strike face 12 may be secured to the FRP backing panel 14 with mechanical fasteners, adhesives, or both. Other fastening methods may also be used. An adhesive 15 may be used structurally or simply as a leveling agent for the two surfaces. [0041] Referring to Fig. 11, an FRP backing panel 114 is embodied as a 3-D composite structure 20 which is configured as a sandwich panel comprising a plurality of fiber insertions 22, skins 24, 26, and a core 28. Each skin 24, 26 includes at least one two- dimensional fabric fiber layer. The core 28 is sandwiched between the pair of skins 24, 26. During the panel fabrication process, fiber insertions 22 are inserted through the skins 24, 26 and the core 28 located therebetween to provide a "dry sandwich." Subsequently, resin is introduced to surfaces of the dry sandwich and travels through the sandwich via vacuum pressure. As described herein, each fiber insertion 22 may represent a bundle of fiber elements associated with each other as known in the art.

[0042] The composite structure 20 includes at least one lower fiber density area 30 in which the fiber insertions 22 thereof are positioned relative to one another to provide each lower fiber density area 30 with a lower fiber density. The fiber insertions 22 of each area 30 may be spaced relative to one another by a spacing 32. In an illustrative embodiment, the spacing 32 is uniform. Illustratively, the spacing 32 is such that each area 30 has sixteen fiber insertions per square inch.

[0043] The composite structure 20 also includes at least one higher fiber density area

34 in which the fiber insertions 22 thereof are positioned relative to one another to provide each higher fiber density area 34 with a higher fiber density greater than the lower fiber density. In each area 34, the fiber insertions 22 are spaced relative to one another by a spacing 36. The higher fiber density areas 34 may include a greater number of fiber insertions 22 as compared to the number of fiber insertions 22 in lower fiber density areas 30. [0044] In some embodiments, the spacing 32, 36 of each area 30, 34 may be nonuniform. As such, the fiber insertions 22 disposed within each area 30, 34 may be non- uniformly or variably spaced relative to one another. In another embodiment, the spacing 32, 36 of an area 30, 34 may be uniform. As such, the fiber insertions 22 disposed within an area 30, 34 may be uniformly spaced relative to each other.

[0045] In still another embodiment, the spacing 32, 36 between fiber insertions 22 within one or more areas 30, 34 may be different from the spacing 32, 36 between fiber insertions 22 within one or more other areas 30, 34. As such, the fiber insertions 22 disposed within one or more areas 30, 34 may be non-uniformly or variably spaced relative to the fiber insertions 22 disposed in one or more other areas 30, 34.

[0046] Referring now to Fig. 4, another embodiment of a ballistic and blast panel 110 includes an FRP panel 14 and a strike face 112 secured to the FRP panel 14 by an adhesive 15. The strike face 112 includes a plurality of ballistic resistant tiles 38 covered by a layer of mesh 40. The strike face 112 is configured such that the mesh 40 distributes an impact load of a ballistic projectile over the ballistic resistant tiles 38. The mesh 40 includes a series of layers of steel cord 42 stacked with the longitudinal axis of the steel cord 42 of one layer in an orientation which is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of steel cord in another layer of the mesh 40.

[0047] In the illustrative embodiment, the steel cord 42 is embodied as a 3x0.20 + 6x

0.35 high-tension steel cord, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 10. The cord 42 includes three inner wires 52 wrapped to form an inner helix 54, each wire 52 having a diameter of about 0.20 millimeters. The inner helix 54 is wrapped by six outer wires 56 wrapped to form an outer helix 58 about the inner helix 54, each of the wires 56 of the outer helix 58 having a diameter of about 0.35 millimeters. Each layer of mesh 40 includes multiple lengths of cord 42 aligned in a generally parallel orientation as shown in Fig. 12. Multiple cords 42 are positioned to form a uni-directional fabric layer 44. The cords 42 are maintained in a spaced apart configuration by a weft 46 comprising multiple strands of polyester filling yarn 48. The weft 46 maintains the cords 42 spaced apart by a spacing 50. The spacing 50 may vary from about 8 to about 16 ends of filling yarn per inch. In the illustrative embodiment, the cords 42 are spaced at about 12 wires per inch of fabric layer width. The spacing of yarns 48 may vary from about 6 yarns per inch to about 10 yarns per inch. In some embodiments, the filling yarn may include a cotton material. In still other embodiments, the filling yarn may include a hot melt material.

[0048] Referring now to Fig. 13, the mesh 40 includes two fabric layers 44 with the cords 42 of one fabric layer 44a positioned at a ninety-degree angle to the cords of another layer of fabric layer 44b. In the illustrative embodiment, the mesh 40 includes two fabric layers 44. In other embodiments, a mesh may include any of a number of fabric layers 44. In still other embodiments, the cords 42 of multiple fabric layers 44 may be oriented at any of a number of angles.

[0049] In other embodiments, a mesh may include materials other than steel cord 42.

For example, a mesh 140 includes woven roving E-glass material as shown in Fig. 14. In the mesh 140 of Fig. 14, the multiple strands of yarns 142 form a fabric 144. Multiple fabrics 144 are weaved in a plain weave pattern to form the mesh 140. Fig. 14 shows an upper surface of mesh 140. The mesh includes six layers of plain weave woven at a weight of 106 ounces per square yard. In use, the mesh 140 may be formed of any of a number of layers woven at any of a number of weights. For example, in another embodiment, the mesh 140 may include twenty-five layers of plain weave woven at a weight of 24 ounces per square yard.

[0050] The use of mesh, such as mesh 40 or mesh 140, with other materials to form a strike face, such as the strike faces 12 and 112, permit the development of a strike face configured to meet the cost and safety requirements of a particular application and the expected ballistic particles of the application. Additionally, a particular strike face may be used in conjunction with various blast panels such as the illustrative blast panels 14 and 114 such that the strike face and blast panel are suited for a particular application. [0051] For example, another embodiment of a strike face 212 is shown in cross- section in Fig. 5. In this embodiment, mesh 40 is secured to opposing faces of a sheet of granite 60. A ballistic strike to the strike face 212 dissipates over an exposed mesh 40 and is impeded by the granite 60 which also distributes the load over a blast panel such as FRP panel 14 or FRP panel 114. In the illustrative embodiment, one of the mesh 40 structures is in contact with the blast panel and serves to assist with distribution of the strike force as well as serving to retain the sheet of granite 60 in a single layer if the granite 60 is fractured by the ballistic strike. In some embodiments, mesh 40 may include multiple layers. In some embodiments, mesh 40 may be omitted and replaced with the woven roving embodiment of mesh 140. In some embodiments, granite 60 may be omitted and replaced with another ballistic resistant metal layer such as ballistic steel or ballistic aluminum. In other embodiments, granite 60 may be omitted and replaced with another ballistic resistant material such as polymer concrete, ceramic, marble or limestone.

[0052] In yet another embodiment of a strike face 312 shown in cross-section in Fig.

6, two layers of mesh 140 are distributed within a layer polymer concrete 62. In some embodiments, one or more of the layers of mesh 140 may be omitted and replaced with a layer or layers of mesh 40. In some embodiments, a single layer of mesh such as mesh 140 may be cast in the polymer concrete 62. In still other embodiments, any of a number of layers of mesh 40 and/or mesh 140 may be cast in polymer concrete 62. In addition, in some embodiments, polymer concrete 62 may be omitted and replaced with another suitable castable material such as ceramic material, for example.

[0053] In some embodiments, multiple layers of different types of mesh may be secured to another material to form a strike face. For example, in an illustrative embodiment shown in Fig. 7, a strike face 412 includes an outer layer of mesh 140 covering two layers of mesh 40 secured to a layer of ballistic metal 64. In another illustrative embodiment shown in Fig. 8, a ballistic and blast panel 510 includes a strike face 512 that includes an outer layer of mesh 140 covering two layers of mesh 40 that are then secured to a layer of ballistic metal 64. Strike face 512 further includes two layers of mesh 40 interposed between an FRP panel 14 and the layer of ballistic metal 64.

[0054] As discussed above, in some embodiments, a strike face may include multiple layers of tiled material. For example, a strike face 612 shown in Fig. 9 includes an outer covering of mesh 140 covering a first layer of tiled ballistic metal 64. The tiled ballistic metal 64 is secured to a layer of tiled granite 60.

[0055] In still other embodiments, a strike face may include a single layer of mesh

140 such as the embodiment of ballistic and blast panel 710 shown in Fig. 15. In the illustrative embodiment of Fig. 15, ballistic and blast panel 710 includes an FRP panel 14 covered by a layer of mesh 140. Ballistic and blast panel 710 may be used in an environment wherein the expected ballistic strike does not require additional materials to serve as a strike face other than mesh 140. hi some embodiments, mesh 140 may be omitted and mesh 40 may be used. In still other embodiments, multiple layers of mesh 40 and mesh 140 may be secured to an FRP panel 14 to form a ballistic and blast panel.

[0056] In performance tests, a strike face 812 shown in Fig. 16 was impact tested under the V-50 test method. A 20mm fragment simulating projectile (FSP) impacted the strike face 812 at 3985 feet per second (1215 meters per second) with only a partial penetration. The strike face 812 includes a layer of granite 60 having a thickness 816 of about 2 inches and a layer of E-glass woven roving mesh 140 secured the granite 60, the mesh 140 having a thickness 818 of about 0.5 inches (1.3 centimeters). The FSP was fired so as to strike the layer of granite 60 at surface 814.

[0057] Still another strike face 912 shown in Fig. 17 was tested under the V-50 test method and withstood an impact of a 20mm FSP at an impact velocity of 4505 feet per second (1373 meters per second) with only a partial penetration. The strike face 912 has a structure similar to the strike face 812, with an added layer of mesh 140 having a thickness of about 0.5 inches (1.3 centimeters). The FSP was fired so as to strike surface 914 of the granite 60. In yet another V-50 test, a strike face 912 included a layer of mesh 140 having a thickness of about 0.5 inches (1.3 centimeters) and a layer of granite 60 having thickness of about 1.6 inches (4.1 centimeters). A 20mm FSP at an impact velocity of 4505 feet-per- second only partially penetrated.

[0058] While various illustrative embodiments have been explained in detail, note that the features described herein may be combined in a plurality of configurations to arrive at a suitable embodiment of ballistic and blast panel for a particular application. For example, various thicknesses of two-dimensional FRP panels may be used. In some embodiments, three-dimensional FRP panels with varying density of insertions may be used to increase the strength of the panel to improve the blast sustaining characteristics of the ballistic and blast panel. Similarly, various combinations of meshes 40 and 140 which include any of a number of layers of fabric may be layered with other ballistic resistant materials such as ballistic metals, granite, marble, limestone, polymer concrete or ceramic to form a strike face suited to a particular ballistic hazard.

[0059] There are a plurality of advantages of the concepts of the present disclosure arising from the various features of the systems described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of each of the systems of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of a system that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A ballistic strike face comprising an inner layer of mesh including (i) a plurality of first strands oriented in a first direction and (ii) a plurality of second strands oriented in a direction generally perpendicular to the first strands, and an outer ballistic resistant layer secured to the layer of mesh.

2. The ballistic strike face of claim 1, wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises at least one of ballistic steel or ballistic aluminum.

3. The ballistic strike face of claim 1, wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises ceramic.

4 The ballistic strike face of claim 3, wherein the mesh comprises E- glass woven roving.

5. The ballistic strike face of claim 3, wherein the mesh comprises steel cord.

6. The ballistic strike face of claim 5, wherein the mesh further comprises E-glass woven roving.

7. The ballistic strike face of claim 1 , wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises granite.

8 The ballistic strike face of claim 7, wherein the mesh comprises E- glass woven roving.

9. The ballistic strike face of claim 7, wherein the mesh comprises steel cord.

10. The ballistic strike face of claim 9, wherein the mesh further comprises E-glass woven roving.

11. The ballistic strike face of claim 10, wherein the mesh comprises multiple layers.

12. The ballistic strike face of claim 1, wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises at least one of marble or polymer concrete.

13. A ballistic and blast panel comprising a fiber-reinforced polymer backing panel, and a strike face including (i) a ballistic resistant layer, and (ii) a first layer of mesh having a plurality of first strands oriented in a first direction and a plurality of second strands oriented in a direction generally perpendicular to the first strands, the first layer of mesh interposed between the ballistic resistant layer and the fiber-reinforced polymer backing panel.

14. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 13, wherein the strike face further comprises a second layer of mesh secured to the ballistic resistant layer on a side opposite the first layer of mesh.

15. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 14, wherein the first layer of mesh comprises E-glass woven roving.

16. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 15, wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises granite, and wherein the second layer of mesh comprises E-glass woven roving.

17. A ballistic and blast panel comprising a fiber-reinforced polymer backing panel and a strike face having a first layer including a mesh of steel cords and a mesh of E-glass woven roving secured to the backing panel and a second layer including granite secured to the first layer.

18. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 17, wherein the strike face further comprises a third layer including mesh secured to the second layer on the surface opposite the backing panel.

19. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 18, wherein the third layer comprises a mesh of steel cord interposed between meshes of E-glass woven roving.

20. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 19, wherein the second layer comprises granite having a thickness of about 1.6 inches (4.1 centimeters).

21. A ballistic and blast panel comprising a fiber-reinforced polymer backing panel; and a strike face comprising (i) a first layer including mesh and (ii) a second layer including ballistic resistant layer secured to the first layer, wherein the first layer is interposed between the second layer and the backing panel.

22. A ballistic and blast panel claim 21, wherein the strike face further comprises a third layer including mesh secured to the second layer on a side opposite the first layer.

23. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 22, wherein the third layer comprises steel cord.

24. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 22, wherein the third layer comprises E-glass woven roving.

25. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 24, wherein the third layer further comprises steel cord.

26. A ballistic and blast panel of any of claims 21-25, wherein the first layer comprises steel cord.

27. A ballistic and blast panel of any of claims 21 -25, wherein the first layer comprises E-glass woven roving.

28. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 27, wherein the first layer further comprises steel cord.

29. A ballistic and blast panel of any of claims 21 -28, wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises ballistic steel.

30. A ballistic and blast panel of any of claims 21-28, wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises ballistic aluminum.

31. A ballistic and blast panel of any of claims 21-28, wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises ceramic.

32. A ballistic and blast panel of any of claims 21-28, wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises granite.

33. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 32, wherein in the granite has a thickness of about 1.6 inches (4.1 centimeters).

34. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 32, wherein in the granite has a thickness of about 2.0 inches (5.1 centimeters).

35. A ballistic and blast panel of any of claims 21-28, wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises marble.

36. A ballistic and blast panel of any of claims 21-28, wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises polymer concrete.

37. A ballistic and blast panel of any of claims 21-36, wherein the fiber- reinforced polymer backing panel comprises (i) first and second sheets, (ii) a core sandwiched therebetween, and (iii) a plurality of fiber insertions extending from the first sheet through the core to the second sheet.

38. A ballistic and blast panel comprising a fiber-reinforced polymer backing panel; and a strike face comprising mesh secured to the backing panel.

39. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 38, wherein the mesh comprises steel cords.

40. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 39, wherein the steel cords comprise 3x0.20 + 6x0.35 high-tension steel cords.

41. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 38, wherein the mesh comprises E-glass woven roving.

42. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 41 , wherein the mesh comprises steel cord.

43. The ballistic and blast panel of claim 42, wherein the steel cords comprise 3x0.20 + 6x0.35 high-tension steel cords. 44, The ballistic and blast panel of any of claims 38-43 , wherein the fiber- reinforced polymer backing panel comprises (i) first and second sheets, (ii) a core sandwiched therebetween, and (iii) a plurality of fiber insertions extending from the first sheet through the core to the second sheet.