Research on Synergistic Shape Memory Pre-stressed Polyurethane for Shock Wave Protection

In response to the need for efficient protection against blast shockwaves, a synergistic shape memory pre-stressed polyurethane protective structure is designed to enhance the shockwave mitigation capability of the material by storing prestresses in the polyurethane to counteract the shockwave loads through the shape-programmable nature of shape memory material. The shape memory polymers are subjected to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test and shape memory performance test to determine the glass transition temperature and shape memory properties of the material. Subsequently, the synergistic shape memory pre-stressed polyurethane structures with three levels of compression (0 %, 8 %, and 16 %) are prepared and modified with four contents of SiO₂nanoparticles (0 %, 1 %, 2 %, and 3 %). Finally, the shockwave protection performance is tested using a multifunctional shock cannon, revealing the influence laws of compression and nanoparticle content on the shockwave attenuation performance of the structure. The results show that the peak pressure attenuation effect of the shock is enhanced by applying prestress and rises with the increase of compression, and the maximum attenuation ratio can reach 71. 89 %. The addition of SiO₂nanoparticles also enhances the shock wave attenuation effect of synergistic shape memory pre-stressed polyurethane protective structure, with the maximum attenuation ratio of peak pressure being 27. 36 %, and the maximum attenuation of peak acceleration being 51. 23 %.