Pultruded Composite Structures for Cargo Stowage Systems (MSC P1T11-429)

Conventional cargo stowage systems (CSS) aboard Navy ships employ a steel rail diagonal dunnage system that is heavy and requires extensive use of wood block fillers between the stanchions and cargo to properly secure and restrain the cargo. In order to reduce shipboard weight and maintenance requirements, new lightweight material solutions and more efficient CSS structural designs are desired. The proposed research addresses the development and demonstration of new lightweight, damage tolerant, pultruded fiber-reinforced polyurethane composite structures for Navy ship cargo stowage systems. More efficient, lightweight composite structural design concepts and new fire-resistant polyurethane resin formulations will be applied to meet the multifunctional performance requirements of toughness, strength, stiffness and low flame, smoke and toxity. In order to ensure success and provide a path for shipboard integration and Phase II/Phase III commercialization, the proposed research will be carried out by an Integrated Product Team (IPT) consisting of composite material and structural designers and pultrusion processing experts.