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Innovative Weight Efficient Combined Structural/Thermal Protection System (TPS) Concepts

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8650-04-M-3432
Agency Tracking Number: F041-248-1593
Amount: $99,187.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF04-248
Solicitation Number: 2004.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2004
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2004-05-17
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2005-03-17
Small Business Information
168 W. Main Street
Clarksburg, WV 26301
United States
DUNS: 826768871
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Vincent Hammond
 Research Scientist
 (304) 842-1864
 vhammond@fmwcomposite.com
Business Contact
 Jerry Fields
Title: Executive Vice President
Phone: (304) 624-8028
Email: jfields@fmwcomposite.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The current approach to providing thermal protection to aero-vehicles is to use a parasitic thermal protection system (TPS) that protects the primary structure while transferring the aerodynamic loads to the same primary structure. This approach increases the complexity of the vehicle system that, in turn, complicates fabrication and inspection of the structure. In addition, this approach also increases production and maintenance costs. Thus, there is a clear need for a low-cost approach to manufacturing thermal protection systems capable of supporting load and are integral to the vehicle structure. This alternate TPS proposed by FMW, with design support from Boeing, would utilize discontinuous reinforcement of titanium (DR-Ti) skins with traditional titanium matrix composites (TMC) support structure. The DR-Ti skins would become an integral part of the vehicle structure and capable of sharing loads while maintain strength at temperature. These combined titanium composite technologies would offer a very robust solution to the TPS problem.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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