Award Data

Space structures and high-speed interceptor technology can be significantly enhanced if lighter weight composite structural materials that possess inherently high-strength damage-resistant properties can be developed on a cost-effective basis. A novel laminated sandwich composite concept is proposed that has the potential to significantly improve upon stiffened composites in use today. Current sti ...

This Phase I effort is to synthesize and develop material processing systems that possess the mechanical properties, and processing characteristic for use in flexible electronic and photonic devices. We will demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating in this effort to optimize the modulator/switch and investigate ways to render it manufacturable and multichip module packagable. This would include ...

The stress analysis and fatigue life prediction of the bonded repaired damaged zone of the aircraft structure is a challenging problem for designers. The lack of accurate life prediction methodologies limit the utilization of composite materials to repair the damaged structure. It is proposed to develop analytically and experimentally validated computer program modules for stress analysis and fa ...

We propose high-performance heat sinks based on MEMS technology for cooling of advanced electronics. Our approach combines innovative designs, new microfabrication techniques, and high conductance materials resulting in extremely low thermal resistance and high heat load capacities in a compact and cost effective design, By using MEMS batch fabrication, the heat sinks can be made inexpensively, ...

Initiatives undertaken by the U.S. Navy will dramatically change the nature of large-caliber shipboard gun systems deployed in the next decade for naval surface fire support. In addition to significant advances in ammunition, such as the development of course-correcting rocket-assisted shells and precision terminal guidance systems, basic gun and magazine designs are undergoing fundamental change ...

One current automatic target recognition (ATR) approach utilizes synthetic radar data. The success of this approach is highly dependent upon the quality of this synthetic data. It is known that the radar scattering from jet aircraft can have a significant engine contribution. Current numerical techniques to predict the jet engine scattering do not yet provide the desired accuracy. As an altern ...

Ships made from non-metallic materials may be lightweight and demonstrate low signatures, but require special lightning protection. This can be afforded using nanocomposites manufactured from carbon naofibers and durable materials such as Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer (EPDM). This offers excellent electrical conductivity especially for high current pulses, but at the same time can extinguish ...

Low cost, high performance carbon fiber anodes to enable a new generation of high-power lithium-ion batteries is proposed. A vapor grown carbon fiber, called Pyrograf-IIITM carbon fiber, with size and morphology which can be varied over a wide range will be optimized for anode utilization. The relationship between the carbon fiber structural parameters and its electrochemical performance is addr ...

Simulation of thin film growth is an essential aspect of developing new materials engineered to specific properties and defining the processing sequence required to produce the film. Software available to simulate such growth requires high end computer performance, and the programs are designed for use by experts in thin film growth who are interested in studying the mechanisms of nucleation and ...

A six-month, $91,305 Phase I SBIR program is proposed to perform ceramic-composition R&D aimed at cryogenic capacitors for the 120 - 240 K temperature range. Candidate compositions from three families of ceramics will be made under subcontract by NexTech Mat'ls Ltd and measured by CeramPhysics, 120 - 240 K (dielectric constant, loss tangent, frequency dependence, electric-field dependence, dielect ...