In-Situ Thermal Properties Measurement Instrument

This proposal presents a methodology for measuring thermal properties in-situ, with a special focus on obtaining the properties of layered stack-ups commonly used in vehicle armor. The technique involves attaching a thermal source to the surface of a component and measuring the heat flux and surface temperature response, which along with a corresponding model of the test conditions, can be used to determine the material properties. The objective of the proposed work is to build a commercially viable thermal property measurement device that builds upon the outcome of the research and development accomplished during the Phase I effort. To reach our objective, we propose a series of specific investigations that include: i. Research and develop advanced measurement and property derivation techniques; ii. Manufacture a commercially viable measurement instrument; iii. Develop a commercially viable optimization module for deriving material properties; iv. Perform extensive and comprehensive laboratory testing on a wide range of homogeneous materials and multilayer stack-ups, as well as in-situ field testing on military ground vehicle armor plates.