3WEAVE-COMPOSITE/CELLULAR-METAL BLAST PROTECTION

Shipboard structures such as aircraft hangars, masts, antennae cable trunks, etc. need armor protection against blast and ballistic events associated with a terrorist or other asymmetric attack. These structures benefit from the use of lightweight energyabsorbing materials. 3TEX will develop a 3D-woven-composite/cellular-metal armor system. The new material/armor technology is based on 3WEAVE 3D weaving for the reinforcement of the FRP composite, and innovative cellular metal materials. 3WEAVE compositeshave been shown to provide superior multi-hit performance at lower weight in hard faced armor systems. Using a combination of design-build-test and detailed material level analysis, the concept of 3WEAVE-composite/cellular-metal armor protection will bedemonstrated. This work will be accomplished with a project team that includes the University of Delaware Center for Composite Materials (UD-CCM), Cellular Materials International and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS). 3WEAVE-composite/cellular-metalarmor systems will be optimized and developed for specific Naval applications. Once proven, these materials can be retrofitted to existing shipboard structure and or implemented into new platforms such as the DDX. These materials will both carry thenecessary structural loads and provide required ballistic/blast protection, all at a lower weight than current state-of-the-art materials and armor systems.