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Enabling Criteria for Flaw Tolerant Composite Design

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Air Force 		Award ID:
40958 		Program Year/Program:
1998 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
40958 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
AZTEX, INC.
360 Second Avenue Waltham, MA 02451
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Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 1998
Title: Enabling Criteria for Flaw Tolerant Composite Design
Agency / Branch: DOD / USAF
Contract: N/A
Award Amount: $96,452.00
 

Abstract:

The implementation of composites in the aerospace industry has been limited because of the inherent unpredictability of composite structure failures. Typically, very conservative designs are saddled with requirements for fail safe fasteners resulting in heavy and expensive structures. Many recent designs such as F-22 began with large percentages of composite structures, but eventually became primarily metallic designs because of these considerations. To fully realize the benefits of composites on high performance aircraft, more flaw tolerant joints must be implemented. Z-Fiber and 3D weaving technologies represent a fundamentally new way to produce large, unitized composite structures. Using Z-Fiber, co-cured joints can be manufactured which are inherently flaw tolerant and do not require additional fail-safe measures to be taken. However, to date, the implementation of Z-Fiber technology has been hobbled by the current industry design criteria that were developed for 2D composites. With the advent of the new Joint Service Structures Specification, a clear set of enabling criteria have been developed which delineate the requirements for co-cured and co-bonded structures on military aircraft. These criteria now provide a clear path to developing the data necessary to implement Z-Fiber and other 3D technologies. The purpose of this program is to begin the process of gathering data to demonstrate that Z-Fiber reinforcement provides a flaw and damage tolerant joint that meets the requirements of the Joint Service Structures Specification.

Principal Investigator:

John Harris
7816225529

Business Contact:


0
Small Business Information at Submission:

AZTEX, INC.
303 BEAR HILL ROAD Waltham, MA 02154

EIN/Tax ID:
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No