Composite Materials Technology

Advanced Munitions | Composite Armor | Lightweight Armament
Electro-Optical Structures | Processing Science

Processing Science

The Army currently has over 400,000 wheeled tactical vehicles in the field, most of them fabricated from sheet metal body parts. The assemblies are easily damaged, susceptible to corrosion, and in need of replacement on an annual basis. The program goal is to introduce high durability polymer matrix composites into the Army's wheeled vehicle fleet as replacements for low-durability sheet metal body parts. Specifically, it will apply materials, processes, tooling, software, and electronic commerce technologies tailored to the low-volume/low-cost space repair parts acquisition scenario.

This program is conducted in collaboration with ARL, TARDEC. Current industrial partners include TPI, and Sioux Manufacturing who have successfully transitioned an intelligent VARTM process developed in our own ONR-AMIPC Center.

TechBrief: Virtual Product Design

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