Durable, Low Cost Soil Stabilization Mat Optimized for Automated Pultrusion Manufacturing

XCraft, along with its team partner KaZaK Composites, propose to develop and produce an innovative, low cost, pultrusion-based matting for soil stabilization applications. Developmental impetus for these novel mat structures is based on a need for improved mobility of heavy tracked and wheeled vehicles over soft expeditionary terrain. Proposed improvements are focused on exceeding the current paradigm of soft soil matting technology in terms of soil stabilization performance, cost, durability and implementation expediency. Working with KaZaK, XCraft will develop and analyze several innovative matting technology candidates based on the application of advanced embedded and non-embedded textile composite structures, utilizing novel matrix and reinforcing materials such as carbon and glass fiber. Composite materials offer enormous flexibility in constituency, allowing optimization of mechanical, physical and chemical performance requirements using material and manufacturing cost as a design variable. Pultrusion will be employed to ultimately produce matting at anomalously high through-put and acceptable low cost. Optimizing each candidate concept for automated production via pultrusion will ensure low cost in production. XCraft and KaZaK have significant experience working together to develop novel composite systems for harsh military environments. Phase I will include both analysis and hardware demonstration.