Ballistic Missile System Composite Materials and Structures

The current use of polymer matrix composite materials aboard U.S. Navy ships has been limited to mainly exterior parts such as DDX topside structures, sonar bow domes, towed array fairings, diving planes, control surfaces and the prototype submarine sail dome for VA class submarines. There has been increasing interest in the development of composite materials for applications inside ships and submarines for modular systems, machinery foundations, piping, gratings, stanchions, cable hangers, ventilation ducts, cabinets, storage lockers and berthing bunks, for example. This new interest in composite materials is due to the increased need for corrosion-free, lightweight, low cost structural components that enable technology insertion into these platforms, however the technical requirement that has limited composite use inside Navy submarine/ships is smoke and toxic gas emissions of polymer matrix composite material systems.The MSI/PEI/ARIS/EB team will investigate advances in polymer matrix materials and core materials in the areas of strength and FST performance to develop a composite sandwich panel which will meet the current FST standards and be of high strength, shock hardened, and cost competitive while still meeting the atmospheric requirements for use inside submarine pressure hulls. At the completion of testing and qualification the resulting product will be ready to transition to production of sandwich panel composite parts. Throughout the development process, documentation of the process, materials, manufacturing and inspection methodology will be developed for use in transitioning the product to production. Critical process parameters and key product characteristics will be established for monitoring and Statistical Process Control (SPC) of the manufacturing process to ensure a quality repeatable process is implemented in the manufacture of sandwich panel products.