Award Data

TDA proposes to develop a multi-physics-based model to simulate and optimize the microwave curing process of thick fiber reinforced composites. The primary objective is to improve the manufacturing speed and cost of high-quality carbon fiber reinforced composites by quickly identifying the right processing parameters for a given part during microwave processing. The model will account for the inte ...

Graphite is one of the most important materials used in our everyday life.  It is used in brake linings, lubricants, powdered metals, refractory applications, steelmaking, and batteries. In recent years, the graphite demand in the U.S. has been driven by the high growth rate of electric vehicle production. Approximately 7.8 million electric vehicles were sold in the U.S. in 2022, a 68% increase f ...

The 1.5 MHz to 35 MHz HF band supports a variety of functions (including ionospheric characterization and over-the-horizon communications) with relatively little infrastructure. The large antenna sizes required present a significant challenge that has prevented the adaptation of HF systems on small platforms. Small, low free-board maritime craft have an extremely small footprint and require a mini ...

There is a critical need for a high purity commercial source of calcium lanthanum sulfide (CaL2S4; CLS).  Ceramics made from CLS have an unusually broad range of transmittance in the infrared (IR), as well as high mechanical strength and environmental durability.  For these reasons, CLS is an ideal material for IR windows used in applications such as multispectral imaging.  CLS ceramics are not ...

Rebreathers are scuba gear that allow the diver to breath underwater without producing bubbles. They have many benefits including light-weight, reduced risk of decompression (lack of nitrogen in the system allows the divers to stay submerged longer) and stealth (since they produce no bubbles, they don’t reveal the diver’s location).  In this closed-circuit operation, the CO2 is removed from t ...

Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) used by the Navy have propellant formulations that contain highly energetic materials.  These propellant formulations are a complex combination of energetic materials (fuel and oxidizer) in a polymer binder with added plasticizers, curing and cross-linking agents, stabilizers, and other materials to improve the performance and lifetime of the propellant. Stabilizers are ...

Deployment of hypersonic weapons is one of the primary goals of the Department of Defense (DoD). This desire is driven by advances Russia and China have made with their hypersonic weapon systems. Unlike the nuclear capabilities being pursued by these adversaries, DoD seeks to improve targeting accuracy and real-time communications to ensure successful mission outcomes. Therefore, there is great de ...

The objective of Phase I is to determine an optimal antenna array design and frequency band of operation to achieve reliable communication in the presence of plasma from glide body separation to terminal phase. Candidate designs will be identified and analyzed in Phase I and will be prototyped and tested in Phase II.  Exo-Atmospheric Technologies will develop a simple, lightweight Deployable Hype ...

Obtaining an accurate map and assessment of subterranean site conditions is an important component of geotechnical engineering. However, despite recent advances in seismic imaging and tomography this is still very much an open problem and one that can lead the use of large factors of safety and can result in substantial additional project costs and delays as geophysical features may be unexpectedl ...

Across the Department of Defense, efforts are underway to develop robust alternatives to GPS for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). Caliola is developing one such GPS alternative for the Navy. Our Satellite Communications [SATCOM] Antenna Pointing for Positioning (SCAPP) solution leverages the pointing vectors produced by the Navy Multiband Terminal while tracking a satellite in geosynchro ...