Fuel Efficiency Improvements for Amphibious Vehicles

This Phase II project goal is to develop solutions that improve the fuel efficiency of Amphibious Vehicles. Amphibious vehicles operate on the leading edge of an assault and in environments where ongoing access to fuel is limited. More efficient fuel usage will also enable longer mission durations and increased operating ranges. The goal is to reduce fuel usage over the Amphibious Vehicle mission profile by 10 to 15%. These vehicles must also operate in harsh environments, including water and off-road conditions. Solutions that reduce weight, particularly un-sprung mass, can improve fuel efficiency while also improving ride quality and water performance. Reducing vehicle weight through composite components favorably reduce ship draft, allowing the AV to ride higher in the water, reducing both pressure and frictional drag. The preliminary assessment of weight saved is conservatively estimated to be ½ ton. This would reduce the vehicle drag by approximately 1.33% (each pound of weight savings will result in 0.0374 lbs. of drag reduction). Using composite materials for the design and fabrication of structures can provide desirable benefits beyond just saving weight; they most benefit in AAV in extreme environments (high stresses, fatigue, multi-axial loading, high and low temperatures, corrosive environments).