Crashworthy Ballistic Tolerant Fuel Tank Weight Reduction

METSS proposes to develop a lightweight, low cost, self-sealing fuel tank for use on helicopters and other aircraft. METSS will demonstrate that existing materials can be combined in a multi-component structure to produce a reduced weight fuel tank that is stable to the JP8 fuel and will self-seal upon impact from a 14.5 mm AP projectile. The base structure of the tank will be produced from a tough nitrile rubber. Additional ballistic resistance will be added to the tank via advanced, high strength, fibrous reinforcing layers. The additional strength provided by these layers will enable the tank to be made of thinner, thus lighter layers. The self-sealing capability will be enhanced to seal against a 14.5 mm projectile by increasing the expansion capability of the rubber that expands on contact with JP8. Moreover, by enhancing the ballistic impact resistance of the tank by the high strength reinforcing layers the overall magnitude of the damage site will be reduced, thus reducing the size of the hole that the self-sealing layer must expand into. Additional weight will be lost by relocation of the heavily reinforced fuel line fittings and access panels. METSS will show that all of this can be accomplished at a reasonable cost, using existing process technology.