Innovative Structural Concepts for Deep-Winged Large Transports (PVSC07-033)

The next generation tactical transport must achieve greater performance that its C-130 and C-141 predecessors, with even more demanding missions and operational requirements, at an affordable price. New mobility concepts have emerged with more radical configurations for potential operational performance benefits. The challenge of this proposed SBIR program is to combine emerging materials and process technologies with advanced innovative design concepts, to achieve even greater impact on structural efficiency and affordability demanded by the next generation transport aircraft. The aerodynamic and structural arrangement that meets next generation transport mobility requirements will lead to higher risk airframe and wing arrangements with possible irregular, non-constant cross sections in multiple planes. The VSC Team proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of innovative HyPerVARTM®/AFI™ design and manufacturing approaches for deep-section wing applications applicable to next generation mobility transport platforms. Several innovative structural concepts will be evaluated that can leverage 3-D performing technology and advancements in design and manufacturing of these structures to achieve lower costs with greater structural efficiency. The Phase I program will demonstrate the feasibility of the VSC solution through engineering trade studies, virtual and physical manufacturing process demonstrations, followed by development of a panel/element/component test plan.