Structurally Efficient, Low-Cost Joining Techniques (MSC P5042)

There is a need to increase load capacity of joints in Navy ships using fiber reinforced composite sandwich construction. The strength of most joints currently used is limited by the relatively low interlaminar properties of the composite materials being joined. The innovative T-Joints being developed and demonstrated by Materials Sciences Corporation under this SBIR program have the potential to increase the load capacity of the joints without increasing weight or cost. The concept, demonstrated via testing under the Phase I program, leads to a more direct conversion of panel axial and bending loads into core shear and also facilitates joining of panels constructed from dissimilar composite materials. The primary objective of the Phase II program is to reduce the risk (technical and cost) of inserting innovative, low-cost, structurally efficient composite sandwich T Joints into U.S. Navy ships such as DD(X). Technical risk will be reduced by conducting a significant number of laboratory tests and large-scale demonstration tests on T-Joints assembled in a shipyard environment. Programmatic risk will be reduced by incorporating feedback from the full-scale assembly exercise into T-Joint design details and by compiling manufacturing cost and schedule data accumulated under the Phase II award.