We propose synergistically implementing two emerging ballistic materials,aluminum foams and 3-D woven polymeric composites, in theconstruction of lightweight armor with ceramic facing. In the recentballistic studies both materials have separately demonstrated improvementsin ceramic-faced armor. … More

"Three-dimensional textile reinforcement architectures with straight in-plane fibers and optimized through thickness fiber content are considered as efficient solutions for the next generation of light weight, damage tolerant, high strength compositesallowing for cost-effective manufacturing… More

70360 The increased use of environmentally-friendly wind energy would help reduce pollution and the emission of hydrocarbons. Wind energy is a fast growing business area, with state-of-the-art turbine blades approaching design limits based on glass reinforced composite materials. New materials… More

"3TEX, Inc., the Center for Composite Materials at the University of Delaware, and the University of Rhode Island propose to further develop 3-D orthogonal woven composite materials for armor applications. We will use a combined approach of new materialsdevelopment, instrumented high strain rate and… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will integrate materials processing and will develop a new lightweight and resilient three-dimensional woven fiber reinforced cellular matrix composite (3DCMC) material. Lightweight materials will allow fuel efficient and more environmentally… More

70360S02-II Wind energy is a fast growing business area with state-of-the-art turbine blades approaching design limits based on glass reinforced composite materials. New materials and blade design approaches that utilize the higher performance of carbon fiber could enable lighter and larger… More

70360S02-II Wind energy is a fast growing business area with state-of-the-art turbine blades approaching design limits based on glass reinforced composite materials. New materials and blade design approaches that utilize the higher performance of carbon fiber could enable lighter and larger… More

Shipboard structures such as aircraft hangars, masts, antennae cable trunks, etc. need armor protection against blast and ballistic events associated with a terrorist or other asymmetric attack. These structures benefit from the use of lightweight energyabsorbing materials. 3TEX will develop a… More

Shipboard structures such as aircraft hangars, masts, antennae cable trunks, etc. need armor protection against small arms fire and light blast associated with a terrorist or other asymmetric attack. These structures benefit from the use of lightweightanti-corrosive materials. 3TEX will develop a… More

3TEX will build on the results of the Phase I projects funded by ONR to develop multi-functional composite material systems designed to both carry structural loads and provide blast protection. The emphasis in this proposed phase II effort will be on all composite solutions not involving metallic… More

Thermal protection materials have been largely parasitic materials adhered to airframe structural materials beneath. Attachment of such disparate and largely non-load-bearing materials incurs weight penalties and encourages failures. Integrated preforms providing enhanced thermal management,… More

Three-dimensional woven and braided fiber architectures provide important advantages to composites, including suppression of delamination, high damage tolerance, improved through-the-thickness properties, simplicity and cost-effectiveness of manufacturing complex composite structural components.… More

Common screwdrivers graduate from a locally hard tip to a globally ductile shaft. Likewise, hybrid metallic molds have been produced which have conductive alloys in strategic locations leading heat to appropriate sinks. Fiber composite structures have also been made with more brittle high… More

GFRP cored panels are common in current shipboard structure design. Robust and practical means of joining these and other composite materials to one another and to any substructure are critical to forming large structures. 3TEX will develop and test joining methods and materials based on 3WEAVETM,… More

Three-dimensional woven and braided fiber architectures provide important advantages to composites, including suppression of delamination, high damage tolerance, improved through-the-thickness properties, simplicity and cost-effectiveness of manufacturing complex composite structural components.… More

Strength and durability of commonly used bonded and bolted composite-to-composite and composite-to-metal structural joints suffer from sharp geometry variations, mismatch of elastic moduli, Poisson's ratios, coefficients of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity of the adherends, altogether… More

In composites, not only can properties vary with load direction, fiber based composites also offer the unique ability to tailor material properties locally. Localized matrix or fiber architecture changes can meet local mechanical, electrical, or thermal loads within a component or vehicle, without… More

During Phase I, 3TEX designed universal, one-piece, 3D woven fiber preforms which can be used as either a "Butt" (H) joint or as a "P" joint as needed. Composite joints were fabricated and tested, demonstrating the benefit of the integral nature of the 3D preforms. 3D stress/strain and crack… More

Strength and durability of commonly used bonded and bolted composite-to-composite and composite-to-metal structural joints suffer from sharp geometry variations, mismatch of elastic moduli, Poisson's ratios, coefficients of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity of the adherends, altogether… More

Military helicopters rotors contend with rain, ice, sand, and flying debris. To prevent damage to the expensive blade protective sheaths or coatings are applied to the leading edge of the rotor blades. A 3-D woven composite sheath with high thermal conductivity fibers running through the thickness… More

Miller Fasteners made from 2-D laminates represent the state of the art in joining CMC panels to metal frames. Despite its success, the extant Miller fastener design is limited by its construction from a laminate of 2-D fabric. The resultant fastener part has poor interlaminar shear strength, and… More

A clear need exists for the next generation of Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) for Thermal Protection Systems (TPS), propulsion hardware, and other high temperature applications. No "off-the-shelf" materials and/or processes capable of meeting NASA's goals are available, yet completely… More

In Phase I of the proposed program we plan to demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing bladetrack components using an approach that will result in substantial reductions in cost and cycle time compared with conventional 2-D lay-up methods. The approach involves use of a 3-D fiber preform with… More

Strength, durability and reliability of commonly used bonded and bolted composite-to-metal structural joints suffer from sharp geometry variations, mismatch of elastic properties, coefficients of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity of the adherends, altogether causing high stress… More

The new material technology is based on 3D weaving for the reinforcement of buildings against both bomb blast and mitigation of the damage caused by flying objects. Four alternatives will be considered for the Phase I work dry 3D fabric, solid composite, sandwich core structures, and combination of… More

The speed of supersonic cruise missiles generates surface temperatures that can exceed the limitations of even high temperature structural metals like titanium. Insulation to protect electronics equipment in the missile is typically a parasitic thermal protection system. A multi-functional solution… More

Miller Fasteners made from 2-D laminates represent the state of the art in joining CMC panels to metal frames. Despite its success, the extant Miller fastener design is limited by its construction from a laminate of 2-D fabric. The resultant fastener part has poor interlaminar shear strength, and… More

Supersonic cruise missiles offer the ability to hit a time critical target with precision and lethality from long distances, yet the high speed generates temperatures on the exterior surfaces of the missile that can exceed the limitations of high temperature structural metals like titanium. Also,… More

Thermal protection materials for ballistic missile kill vehicles must retain strength and stiffness at temperatures around 1500-2000oC in an oxygen rich environment, and isolate payload electronics from excessive heating. Weight is a concern, since lighter weight translates to higher velocity and… More

Wind blades are a significant part of the installation and operating costs of wind turbines used for electricity generation. In the manufacture of wind blades, several composite elements must be joined; the joints between these elements present one of the most difficult aspects of their… More

A heat exchanger must balance an ability to transfer heat to a fluid with the amount of power required to move the fluid through the heat exchanger. For most systems, heat transfer is largely driven by the material¿s thermal conductivity and the structure¿s surface-area-to-volume ratio. … More

  Based on the results of the Phase I project, it was shown that 3TEX`s unitary 3D woven E-Glass billet reinforced composite panels have excellent potential to be used as blast mitigating material for protecting buildings. Fibers and resins used in the Phase I were selected with affordability… More

A novel method of fabricating carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced polymer matrix composites is proposed. It includes growing super-aligned carbon nanotube arrays on a flat substrate, using NCSU proprietary shear pressing method to compress the grown arrays into a layer of densely packed, highly aligned… More

Wind blades are complex constructions of composite materials. As with all composite structures, forming joints between the various elements has long been problematic, since composites cannot easily be bolted, fastened, or welded together. Current manufacturing methods result in thick adhesive layers… More

A novel method of manufacturing complex unitized composite structures reinforced with 3D non-crimp orthogonal woven fabric (serving as self-sustained single-ply skin preform) and 3D braided fabrics (serving as self-sustained unitary preforms for stiffeners, Pi-joints or other similar elements) is… More