Rapid Low Cost Application of Adhesive Tangs for Support of Shipboard Fire Protection Materials

The next generation of U.S. Navy combatants is currently under design with topside structures considering composite materials. Composite topside structures will reduce weight, provide significantly reduced RCS signatures and assist the Navy to meet performance goals. Development of Navy topside structures has evolved based on prior experience which has included the design and construction of the AMES Mast, Forward Director Room (first article) and more recently the extensive research and development to qualify the design of the DDG Composite Helicopter Hangar. Several current composite programs, the design and manufacture of the DDG 1000 topside structure and NSRP’s Improved Affordability for Composite Structure are working to reduce cost, weight and manufacturing complexity. An adhesive tang system that supports shipboard passive fire protection is another step to outfitting a composite topside structure. KaZaK’s Phase I efforts will work with a shipyard to define system requirements, further refine/develop its proposed innovations through analysis and fire, smoke and toxicity testing (FST), while refining designs and laboratory qualification testing during Phase II. KaZaK will investigate a novel material construction that has been used with great success in other design problems that required a balance between FST requirements, adhesion and structural support at low cost.