Low Cost, Impact Damage Resistant Pultruded Composite Ship Structure

In Phase I KaZaK designed, fabricated and tested ¼ scale models of numerous material and configuration alternatives for the current 1” thick steel LCU hull bottom. Each alternative was made from composite materials, optimized for pultrusion processing to minimize cost, and tailored for production using KaZaK’s 10’ wide pultrusion equipment. Impact tests comparing performance of composite candidates to 1” baseline steel showed a composite design with the same impact penetration resistance as steel will weigh at least 25% less. Some composite panels had far better resistance to sub-penetration impact levels than steel, suggesting reduced need for routine maintenance. In Phase II KaZaK will analytically and experimentally improve composite hull bottom alternatives by designing and producing full scale plates for impact and other mechanical testing. In parallel, we will investigate integration of the improved hull bottom with advanced internal substructures to further reduce weight and improve impact performance while maintaining other structural properties required for future logistics vessels. The program will culminate with demonstration of full scale optimized hull bottom structure (external composite plate plus internal substructure), preferably produced by pultrusion to minimize cost. The program goal is demonstration of cost effective structure with weight savings between 25 and 50 percent.