Optimized Cellular Core for Rotorcraft

Patz Materials and Technologies proposes to develop a unique structural cellular core material to improve mechanical performance, reduce platform weight and lower the production costs for rotorcraft platforms. The performance of any rotorcraft will be inherently dependent on the flight weight of that structure. The goal of Patz Materials and Technologies is to combine their experience of resin/fiber reinforced composite materials with their core fabrication technology to create a new and novel cellular core material for the advancement of the rotorcraft industry. To achieve this goal Patz Materials and Technologies proposes to work directly with a rotorcraft producer, Bell Helicopter, to quantify the specific physical requirements of cellular core structures applied to rotorcraft platforms. The outcome of this partnership will allow Patz Materials and Technologies to develop a unique structural prepreg based cellular core to optimize performance versus weight. A small amount of the core will be fabricate and physically tested to validate its significance.