Low Cost High Strength High Toughness Corrosion Resistant Materials for Marine Corps Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV)

The Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) has a need for low cost titanium alloys for use in major components such as the Hydro-Pneumatic Suspension Unit (HSU) and for low cost, high strength, high toughness corrosion resistant materials for use in other critical components. Phase I of this SBIR Program involved trade-off studies on commercial and near term titanium alloys/processes and high strength stainless steels to evaluate their applicability for use in selected EFV components. Phase I also developed preliminary design concepts for use of these materials in the EFV components. Based on the Phase I preliminary design concepts and alloy/process selections, the Phase II effort will involve fabrication/demonstration/validation/on-vehicle testing of improved EFV suspension system components such as a higher strength, cost effective forged titanium alloy component, a low cost cast titanium alloy component. an optimized high strength stainless steel component and a high hardness steel component fabricated by advanced forming methodology. An Option Phase will involve a tear-down analysis after the on-vehicle testing and assistance in the development of the manufacturing specifications.