Metal Truss X-Cor Structures for Marine Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles

"Aztex has developed an open cell periodic metal truss structure, Metal Truss X-Cor, as a multi-functional alternative to metallic honeycomb and stochastic cellular metal structures currently under consideration for the Marine Expeditionary Family ofFighting Vehicles (MEFFV). This all-metal structure can offer to maximize the efficiency of a metal truss design by employing defect free, wrought metal wires or tubing into a straight pin truss array. This array of pins can be bonded to metalfacesheets using a Transient Liquid Phase process (TLP). The key to this approach is to provide an open cell multi-functional structure with excellent corrosion resistance, damage tolerance, structural stiffness, and weight savings in excess of 75%. Inthis program, Aztex and Princeton University propose to adapt an existing Aztex core technology, X-CorT, used for polymer composite structures in military aircraft. The structural performance of X-CorT material is comparable to aluminum honeycomb with theadded benefit of corrosion resistance and damage tolerance. By adapting this baseline technology to all-metal structures, it will be possible to extend proven aerospace technology to the harsh environment of expeditionary vehicles using inexpensivematerials and processes. Currently available metal core structures include honeycomb, metal foams, periodic metal structures from textiles and formed perforated metals. Honeycomb is the most common and