Hybrid Composite Fasteners for Aviation and Vehicle Use (1000-350)

Triton Systems Inc. (TSI) proposes a revolutionary combination of material, process and configuration innovations enabling a new generation of composite fasteners having the tensile and shear capability today's UNJF-3A titanium fasteners yet meeting critical LO, clamping force, durability and weight reduction needs specific to Army needs. TSI fasteners can be made using composite engineered materials such as reinforced polymer matrix composites (PMC) or as ceramic matrix (CMC) or metal matrix (MMC) composite. TSI's hybrid materials also allow fastener design as functionally graded polymer / metal and metal / ceramic composites (PMMC and MCMCT). These engineered materials use similar low cost forming and processing technologies. In design discussions with aircraft and vehicle team integrators, Army systems such as the RAH-66 Comanche and family of FCS land & aero vehicles require fasteners allowing connection of composite parts to other structure elements. TSI's innovative approach(s) will reduce un-wanted effects with metallic fasteners including galvanic corrosion, damage to composite materials during assembly (excessive clamping forces) and during dis-assembly and fastener loosing under high vibration and cyclic usage. Finally, by design TSI's fasteners can reduce parasitic weight by replacing heavier metallics with lightweight composites yielding structural weight reduction while providing enhance survivability from radar detection.