Award Data

It has been demonstrated on a small scale that nanoparticles have the potential to improve the performance of high energy density gun propellants. Nanomaterials such as Al, B, AlB, and BNNT have been integrated into gun propellants resulting in increased burning rates and efficiencies. However, significant technical challenges exist with this technology in process scalability, particle agglomerati ...

Cornerstone Research Group Inc (CRG) proposes to provide a complete cost-effective anti-tamper system to protect advanced ammunition projectiles from tamper and reverse-engineering efforts. CRG has participated in five AT-based Phase II and seven AT-based Phase I SBIR programs. These programs have produced multiple layers of AT solutions. These solutions consist of a high TRL 7/8 conformal coating ...

Advanced reactive materials (RM) with reduced electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitivity are needed by the Army. Nanoscale thermite compositions are of particular interest because of the fast reaction rates and high flame temperatures generated during reaction. Unfortunately, in many cases, the materials are so reactive that they are impractical to work with. One route to improving ESD insensitivit ...

Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) proposes to develop a self-contained system that can distinguish an ejection from normal operations, and respond appropriately by dismounting the HMDS from the crewmember’s helmet only during an ejection. CRG has determined that using stimuli that are unique to an ejection will be more reliable and faster than using acceleration. Optimum environmental stimul ...

There is a current need for the passive protection of antenna apertures from electronic warfare (EW) and high power microwave (HPM) threats. Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) proposes to develop switchable electromagnetic windows that will passively respond to high power microwave threats. Switchable electromagnetic windows will have the ability to respond directly to the threat without an in ...

Although solid rocket motors (SRM) are ideally suited to many propulsion applications, their lack of controllability restricts their mission flexibility. Following ignition of an SRM’s propellant grain, combustion continues until all propellant is consumed. Controllability of the motor’s thrust profile can provide improved missile performance and multi-role capability. One approach to gaining ...

Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) proposes to develop the next generation of vaneaxial fans through extensive aerodynamic study coupled with state-of-the-art motor and controller technologies. Analytical tools to aid in the development of the next generation vaneaxial fans will be implemented to provide rapid tradespace assessment for new fan designs, which will be followed with computational ...

The aerospace industry needs an innovative pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) to increase the performance of new aircraft paint-replacement coatings for both rotorcraft and fixed-winged platforms. The PSA will be used to adhere existing polymeric appliqué film materials to the current polyurethane-based aircraft body primers. Currently, existing PSAs cannot provide mechanical performance and solve ...

Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) proposes to develop an innovative concept for a lightweight, low-cost, multi-functional intelligent deicing/anti-icing system. The proposed concept utilizes an integrated piezoelectric (PZT) sensor/actuator network to autonomously monitor system function, the leading edge of the rotor for ice accretions, damage due to FOD, and to perform or assist in deicing/a ...

Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) proposes to demonstrate the benefits of shape memory polymer (SMP) bladder tooling for fabrication of a composite Navy rotorcraft part. CRG’s SMP bladder tooling reduces labor costs and manufacturing time for fabricating complex composite parts. Conventional silicone or latex bladders are not rigid enough to support composite lay-up before custom molding. Th ...