Nicalon/Blackglas CMC blastshields have been designed, fabricated, and tested for the AV-8B Harrier. They replace existing stainless steel blastshields that must be constantly repaired due to high thermal stresses and severe thermal acoustic loads. The improved CMC blastshields, however, cannot be… More

The proposed Phase I effort is aimed at the development of damage tolerant design and failure criteria for joints containing 3-D weave reinforced inserts in composite structures. Recent work involving the use of textile reinforced inserts in the contraction of typical airframe joints well beyond… More

Miniaturization, and the continued improvements in the speed and performance of electronics and other heat-dissipating systems, places an increasing demand on thermal management systems through the increase in power densities. There is a challenge toprovide new thermal management technologies and… More

Aluminized rocket motors impose a severe environment on nozzle materials, with pressures of 3000 psi and temperatures of 6300¿F. Thermodynamic calculations, supported by experimental data, indicate that only tungsten (W) and tantalum carbide (TaC) canprovide a non-eroding surface. Recent motor… More

This effort explores using innovative hybrid reinforced carbon-carbon, refractory ceramics, super alloys and composite materials as thermal protection system (TPS) in Hybrid composite leading edges for reusable launch vehicles (RLV). The RLV leading edge is the primary TPS that space vehicles use… More

Effort explores using innovative hybrid reinforced carbon-carbon, refractory ceramics, super alloys and composite materials as thermal protection system specifically in the 4000?F range with leading edge radii of between 0.03? and 1.0?. The RLV leading edge is the primary TPS that space vehicles use… More

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are being developed for the exhaust nozzle of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) because they offer significant weight reduction and high temperature capability. The use of CMCs in JSF components, however, is hampered by the relative immaturity and unproven nature of… More

The performance of the JSF can be improved by reducing the weight of the propulsion system. The JSF is powered by either Pratt & Whitney's (P&W) F135 engine or General Electric's F136 engine. Both engines use a common exhaust system produced by P&W. One attractive approach to reducing the weight… More

The performance of the JSF can be improved through the use of CMCs because they offer lower weight, improved high temperature strengths, and better performance than existing metal components. Recent tests of CMC components have identified COI's S200 CMC as an attractive material for gas turbine… More

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and other components of the Department of Defense (DOD) are cur-rently developing advanced materials for propulsion hardware, weapons systems, thermal management applications, and divert and altitude control systems (DACS). The materials include high temperature… More

MDA is developing materials for several applications including hypersonic missiles, ma-neuvering reentry vehicles, advanced solid rocket motors, and divert and attitude control sys-tems. All of these applications employ components that must operate at temperatures above 3000¿F. Viable structural… More

This effort explores and assesses the options available for refractory composite leading edges cooled by embedded metallic heat pipes. Currently, the heat pipe cooled leading edges (HPCLE's) being investigated are fabricated primarily from refractory superalloys. However, even the best superalloys… More

N06-030 Effect in Defects in Ceramic Composites. The performance of the Joint Strike Fighter can be improved by reducing the weight of the propulsion system. The JSF is powered by either Pratt & Whitney"s F135 engine or General Elec-tric"s F136 engine. Both engines use a common exhaust system… More

The U.S. Air Force is contemplating a long term investment in advanced thermal protection systems (TPS). The goal of this effort is to provide materials and processing solutions for TPS that can be employed in advanced space access vehicles. The goal of the proposed effort is to design acreage TPS… More

This proposal is submitted under topic MD05-066 and addresses the development of low cost, needled C/SiC for throttleable divert and altitude control systems (TDACS). The TDACS is being developed to guide the kinetic weapon of the Navy's Standard Missile-3 to the target. The throttleable solid… More

Present space vehicles such as NASA's space shuttle and reentry bodies are designed with a cool internal structure, typically aluminum, surrounded by a parasitic thermal protection system (TPS). The space shuttle TPS uses coated carbon-carbon silica tiles and aluminum blan-kets, while reentry… More

This proposal addresses Item #2 of Topic X7.04 Aeroassist Systems and proposes innovative heat shield thermal protection systems (TPS) designs for human-rated aeroassist vehicles returning to Earth from the Moon and Mars. The proposed designs 1) utilize concepts with and without outer ablator… More

In order to utilize the promising high temperature characteristics of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) in applications such as Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) engine components, the effects of potential defects must be sufficiently understood and characterized. The use of CMCs in engines provides… More

MR&D proposes to develop and demonstrate lower cost versions of high temperature composites with suitable temperature ranges, which are capable of surviving the high temperature exposures of hypersonic flight while retaining sufficient strength for their specific applications. Low cost materials… More

Future supersonic missiles can be improved through the use of PMCs and CMCs for structural airframes. However the severe aerodynamic heating conditions that the missiles undergo will expose the structure to short term temperatures and stresses that are beyond those typically seen by these… More

MR&D proposes to develop and demonstrate lower cost versions of high temperature composites with suitable temperature ranges, which are capable of surviving the high temperature exposures of hypersonic flight while retaining sufficient strength for their specific applications. Low cost materials… More

N06-030 Effect in Defects in Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) The performance of the advanced strike fighters can be im-proved by reducing the weight of the propulsion system. The jet engines of interest are Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine or General Electric's F136 engine. Both engines use a… More

The Joint Strike Fighter is considering the use of organic and ceramic matrix composites for high temperature engine components. Material coupons and flight tests have shown that when these materials are exposed to high temperatures in the presence of air, salt fog, and humidity they can react… More

Future Air Force hypersonic vehicles will employ complex shapes and fly extended maneuvering trajectories. Since the flight times may increase by an order of magnitude or more, existing ablative thermal protection systems will not be practical due to their excessive surface recession and high… More

The proposed Phase II effort involves 1) continued material development of lower cost high temperature composites (PIP C/SiC) begun in Phase I, 2) modifications to the hybrid truss core integrated TPS design concept in order to tailor the final design to specific re-entry and hypersonic cruise… More

The proposed Phase II effort involves 1) continued material development of low cost, high temperature composites for strategic missile components begun in Phase I, 2) the generation of an enhanced materials property database from measurements performed on these composites in Phases I and II, and 3)… More

A program involving analysis and design, reinforcement materials research and development, composite fabrication, and composite property testing is proposed here to develop improved interlaminar properties of carbon-carbon composites used as the substrates for rocket propulsion components, such as… More

This Phase II proposal is submitted under topic MD05-066 and continues the develop-ment of low cost, needled C/SiC for throttleable divert and altitude control systems (TDACS). The TDACS is being developed to guide the kinetic weapon of the Navy's Standard Missile-3 to the target. The throttleable… More

The innovation in this proposed effort is the development of lightweight, non-eroding nozzle materials for use in propulsion systems. Lightweight structures are desirable for space transportation vehicle systems in order to reduce launch costs, increase mission flexibility/efficiency, and add… More

The fatigue life of CMCs must be well characterized for the safe and reliable use of these materials as integrated TPS components. Existing fatigue life prediction models for composite materials may be classified into three different categories: a) fatigue life model (SýýN curves), b) residual… More

Future supersonic missiles can be improved through the use of polymer matrix composites (PMCs) for structural airframes. However the severe aerodynamic heating conditions will expose the structure to short term temperatures and stresses that are beyond those typically seen by these materials. … More

Radiation or passively cooled thrust chambers are used for a variety of chemical propulsion functions including apogee insertion, reaction control for launch vehicles, and primary propulsion for planetary spacecraft. The performance of these thrust chambers is limited by the operating temperature… More

Future Air Force hypersonic vehicles will employ complex shapes and fly extended maneuvering trajectories. Since the flight times may increase by an order of magnitude or more, existing ablative thermal protection systems will not be practical due to their excessive surface recession and high… More

Future hypersonic vehicles will utilize thermal protection system (TPS) designs and propulsion system components that are capable of experiencing high temperatures within oxidative environments during their operation. These TPS and propulsion system components will include high temperature ceramic… More

MR&D is proposing to perform a combined analytical, fabrication, and experimental program to achieve the program objectives of developing innovative approaches to improving FOD resistance of CMC materials, specifically GE's HyPerCompTM SiC/SiC CMC material. MR&D will develop finite element math… More

MDA missile systems employ solid rocket motors and divert and attitude control systems (DACS) to propel and guide kinetic energy weapons. These systems create hot, high pressure gases that impose high heat loads on surrounding metal structures and electronic controls. Exist-ing designs use… More

The Joint Strike Fighter is considering the use of organic and ceramic matrix composites for high temperature engine components. Material coupons and flight tests have shown that when these materials are exposed to high temperatures in the presence of air, salt fog, and humidity they can react… More

Materials Research & Design (MR&D) is proposing in the SBIR Phase II an effort to develop a tool for predicting the fatigue life of C/SiC composite laminates, which incorporates mechanical loading at any minimum stress to maximum stress ratio (i.e., R value), at room and elevated temperatures, in… More

The innovation in this proposed effort is the development of refractory coated or lined low density structures. Lightweight structures are desirable for space transportation vehicle systems in order to reduce launch costs, increase mission flexibility/efficiency, and add robustness with respect to… More

Mechanical and thermal performance of CMC components benefit from low part count, integrally fabricated designs of 3D woven reinforcement. The advantages of these designs include the elimination for the need for post-fabrication mechanical attachment and the higher interlaminar properties offered… More

Compared to superalloys, ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) offer reduced weight and superior specific properties at elevated temperatures. However, CMCs are prone to oxidation degradation when exposed to oxygen at high temperatures, which is the primary driver for useful life of the component. … More

MR&D's objective in the proposed research will be to execute a Technical effort to study existing data and to develop the appropriate representative S300 CMC material samples, test samples and test types, and to do the appropriated oxidation and mechanical test studies. Establish oxidation rates as… More

MDA missile systems employ solid rocket motors and divert and attitude control systems (DACS) to propel and guide kinetic energy weapons. These systems create hot, high pressure gases that impose high heat loads on surrounding metal structures and electronic controls. Exist-ing designs use… More

The US Navy is developing an electromagnetic rail gun (EMRG) that can fire inert projectiles with a mass of 15 kg to a range of 200 nautical miles. The lethality of the weapon is based upon the kinetic energy of the projectile, which will strike the target at a velocity of 1.5 km/sec. The small… More

ABSTRACT: Future hypersonic vehicles, like X-43 and X-51 derivatives and Falcon HTV-3, will require advanced strategies for thermal protection systems (TPS) and methods of structural integration. The goal in designing TPS for these types of high performance applications is to establish… More

Navy aircraft employ components that are contoured for aerodynamic performance and made of composite sandwich structures for high strength-to-weight ratio. Many of these components presently use honeycomb cores surrounded by thin high strength face sheets. While honeycomb is used extensively, it can… More

One of the main drivers in the design of nozzles for advanced air-to-air missiles deals with erosion caused by combustion gases. Erosion can happen by melting/sublimation, oxidation and mechanical abrasion depending on the nature of the propellant. Current de Laval nozzles for air-to-air missile… More