Material Multi-Solution for Hypersonic Systems

The proposed Phase II effort involves development and demonstration of an all-carbon fiber/epoxy aft shell body and integrated aft pusher assembly for gun launched hypervelocity applications. The all-carbon fiber technology is the selected approach for this effort, owing to the cost effectiveness, long term availability, and broad utility of this material and manufacturing process methods for military applications. The configuration developed under the Phase I effort will be refined to achieve maximum strength at minimum density for the aft shell body. The design will be validated through testing of tactically representative configurations using CAES"76mm gun facility. Additionally, in the interest of addressing the issue of aero-thermal heating, methods for application of an external Aramid fiber thermal protection coating onto several aft shell specimens will be investigated.