Thermoplastic Composites for Hull Structures of High Speed Lighters(1000-552)

Triton Systems Inc. proposes this Phase II SBIR program to develop lightweight, low-cost, highly impact resistant and environmentally-friendly composite hull structural/beachable panels for beach impact areas of next generation high speed lighters. The proposed technology will be applied to the future sea-base connector systems. The novel approach is based upon engineering of advanced thermoplastic composite (TPC) materials for cost-effective, structurally-efficient beachable panels. Traditionally, the standard landing craft used to move equipment from a seabase over the horizon to a beach or austere harbor have been robustly built steel utility vehicles. Recent high-speed vessels made of lightweight structures are not suitable for impact loads caused by beaching. There is a need for new lightweight hull structures for next generation high speed lighters and sea-base connector systems. An impact-tolerant, lightweight lighterage system enables interoperability with other vessels by withstanding the loads caused by beaching and vessel impacts in sea state 5.