Electroactive Polymer Based Strategically Tuned Absolutely Resilient Structures (STARS)

There is a need for a new generation of aerodynamic structures that have greater flight envelope capabilities with significantly better efficiency and damage recovery characteristics but yet are still cost effective to manufacture. Several attempts have been made to make more revolutionary advances in aerodynamic structures in the last decade. Significant funding has been made available through DARPA, NASA and the Air Force in the Smart and Morphing Wing programs leading to innovative new concepts as well as successful initial demonstrations. However, none of these programs have integrated the full range of innovative characteristics requested by the Army and MDA in this topic. Infoscitex (IST) is proposing to address this opportunity by developing a novel integrated materials system that can enable aircraft-realistic structurally tuned absolutely resilient structures (STARS). IST is developing a novel electroactive polymer resin system that will allow the incorporation of intrinsic aeroelastic and self healing properties into carbon fiber prepreg. This new material can then be actuated and shaped with modest power requirements substantially reducing the weight that would otherwise be required by conventional flight control mechanisms. Team member, Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, will be providing guidance in the design phase of the Phase I program.