Power Transmission Shafting for Air Cushion Vehicles

The US Navy operates Amphibious Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) to transport payloads between ships and shore in extremely harsh environments. The Navy intends to double the cargo capacity of current ACVs by developing a next generation vehicle with significant advances in structural efficiency. This SBIR endeavors to increase ACV performance and mitigate vibration by replacing heavy carbon steel power transmission shafts currently employed with shafts constructed from advanced materials. During Phase I, Texas Research Institute/Austin (TRI/Austin) and subcontractor Pacific Engineering, Inc. will develop and demonstrate the feasibility of employing advanced composite materials to construct power transmission shafts that outperform existing ACV steel shafts. The new shafting must be able to transmit power and torque, maintain integrity, alignment and balance when exposed to harsh operating conditions, and mate to steel gearboxes without creating galvanic cells. TRI/Austin’s composite power transmission shafts will provide this functionality while significantly reducing the weight of the power transmission system and mitigating vibration. Preliminary estimates show that shafting weight can be reduced by at least 50%. TRI/Austin’s composite power transmission shafts can advance the Navy’s goals by reducing vibration, decreasing weight, and increasing the efficiency of the Navy’s current and future ACVs.