Advanced Structural Development for Naval Hovercraft Ramps

Use of lightweight and durable composite materials in the design and construction of the ramps for US Navy hovercrafts has the potential to make significant impact on mission capability and mobility. Lightweight ramps will increase the payload capacity, improve vehicle handling and performance, reduce fuel consumption, extend vehicle range, reduce operating and maintenance costs and reduce life-cycle cost. Advanced composite material solutions can also increase fatigue life, incorporate structural health monitoring technology and survive a wider range of environmental conditions. WebCore Technologies (Miamisburg, Ohio) has successfully demonstrated the capability of its patented TYCOR fiber reinforced composite sandwich structures in several highly demanding structural applications. These applications include vehicular bridges, submarine berthing fenders, military shelters, wind turbine blades and most notably, the Personnel Transport Module (PTM) shelter for the LCAC. In all these applications, except wind turbine blades, TYCOR composite material and design solution replaced traditional construction materials such as steel, aluminum, concrete and wood. Through its work on LCAC PTM structure, WebCore is intimately familiar with the unique operating environment and requirements of hovercrafts. WebCore will bring to bear its significant experience of design, development and manufacturing of large composite structures to ensure success of this program.