Military vehicles usually have armor.
Shielding is the act and result of shielding : protecting something from the action of projectiles , fire , or something similar. The concept can be used in a literal sense (when certain materials are used to shield) or symbolically (figurative or non-material protection).
As a physical barrier , armor is usually used in special vehicles to minimize the damage that can be caused by shots fired by attackers. It is common for the shielding to be made with a sheet of steel or another metal that is used to cover what it is intended to protect.
If a thief fires shots at an armored car , for example, the bullets will not be able to penetrate the body of the vehicle. This is a very important safety mechanism for the occupants of the car, who can eventually flee the attack without receiving harm.
Security films for shielding
To protect glazed panels or glass doors, safety films are used, which are placed on the inside and do not alter visibility. This product increases the mechanical resistance against impacts and blows of various types, but the most important thing is that it prevents the fragments of the damaged glass from flying, since they remain adhered to the film.
Safety films serve to protect both a structure and the people inside it and were discovered by accident, when a scientist dropped a flask and discovered that the plastic film that covered it had prevented it from breaking into pieces and even spilling its contents.
The armor provides protection against projectiles, blows and other attacks.
Classification according to type
It is known as reactive armor , which reacts in a certain way when a projectile hits its surface, with the aim of reducing the damage it may cause to the vehicle it protects. Its effectiveness is considerable against APFSDS (armor-piercing fin-stabilized projectiles with disposable sabot casing) and shaped charges (a technique for the construction of explosive projectiles that redirects and concentrates force to overcome an armored surface).
In this context, the most used is explosive reactive armor , which is also known by its English acronym ERA, SLERA, NERA and NxRA . Although the NxRA and NERA modules have enough resistance to absorb multiple attacks , unlike the other two, if a projectile hits the same point as the previous one, it is likely to penetrate the vehicle.
Shielding in other elements
Tires can also benefit from shielding through the use of safety rims . In this case, there are several materials , such as aluminum, polymers, nylon and rubber. The rings are installed inside the tire, so that it supports the entire surface and cannot move. This extends the life of the tires and improves grip on the ground.
Shielding also applies to the clothing of members of security forces or people who, for some reason, are in a risk situation. In this case, the shielding is carried out with spongy materials that can resist impacts. The bulletproof vests used by police officers, to name one example, are an example of armored clothing.
Symbolic use of the term
In a symbolic sense, the idea of shielding is often used to name the protection that some personalities enjoy from the media.
A very powerful businessman who owns several television channels, radio stations and newspapers may have a media shield that allows him to prevent complaints of corruption against him and various accusations of all kinds from being disseminated by journalism.