Penetration resistant fabric structures and materials

Abstract

A ballistic barrier for protecting an aircraft from damage due to projectile penetration, the aircraft having a fuselage including an outer skin, an inner panel and a structure. The ballistic barrier includes at least one layer of high strength fabric disposed between the outer skin and the inner panel of the aircraft which is substantially fixedly positioned with respect to the fuselage of the aircraft. Preferably, the at least one layer of high strength fabric comprises a plurality of plies. One of the plies can be a felt. Another of the plies can comprise woven fibers. Also preferably, the at least one layer of high strength fabric comprises a polymer material such as one or more of aramid material, polyethylene material, and polybenzoxazole material. The layer of high strength fabric can be attached to at least one of the frames of the structure of the fuselage, to a layer of insulation positioned between the outer skin and inner panel of the fuselage of the aircraft, or be enclosed within an outer covering of a layer of insulation positioned between the outer skin and inner panel of the fuselage of the aircraft.