CONFORMAL THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITE MATERIALS FOR COMPOUND CURVATURE HELICOPTER PRIMARY STRUCTURES

HIGHLY CONFORMAL GRAPHITE/PEEK THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITE FABRICS UTILIZING CO-MINGLED YARNS ARE CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED FOR USE IN SIMPLE CURVATURE PRIMARY HELICOPTER STRUCTURE. THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO ADVANCE THEIR USE TO COMPOUND CURVATURE HELICOPTER PRIMARY STRUCTURE AND CONCURRENTLY DEMONSTRATE A MANUFACTURING PROCESS APPLICABLE TO LARGE, COMPLEX STRUCTURES. THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES SELECTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE HELICOPTER STRUCTURAL COMPONENT, SELECTION OF A SPECIFIC MATERIAL AND PROCESS, PROCESS OPTIMIZATION, LIMITED MECHANICAL TESTING, AND FABRICATION OF TWO PARTS. A FINAL REPORT SHALL BE PREPARED.