Composite Fastener Development

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II proposal responds to the US Army critical needs to develop a JTRS MANPACK radio housing at a reduced overall weight compared to the current aluminum radio housing via a composite design and manufacturing concept that is lightweight, durable, and economical, while meeting challenging heat dissipation loads. Texas Research Institute Austin, Inc. and subcontractors Gate Mold Inc., Chomerics, Inc. and General Dynamics C4 Systems, propose to build on previously successful technical work and products for Army applications to develop innovative concepts that will offer light weight, EMI shielding, and efficient thermal management. TRI/Austin’s engineering staff will perform material and manufacturing process surveys to produce a durable composite radio housing design. Finite element analyses will be performed to ensure that the radio system meets all structural performance requirements. An economic analysis will be performed to optimize and estimate production costs. Prototypes of the new radio housing will be fabricated and assembled. The prototype will be evaluated against key performance parameters through a series of tests.