Shipboard SMART Foundation Adapter

"The Shipboard Modular Arrangement Reconfiguration Technology (SMART) track system is being adopted as the standard shipboard equipment mounting system. SMART track installations provide a cost effective system for installing equipment aboard ships bysimplifying the structural work involved in reconfigurations. However, current installations require individually constructed intermediate foundation adapters to mount equipment to the SMART interface, resulting in increased costs and creating potentialergonomic problems due to the increased height of the foundation adapter. A cost effective, lightweight, low profile, reconfigurable foundation adapter family is required that can serve as the interface between various equipment types and mountingorientations, and the SMART track foundation interface. Texas Research Institute Austin, Inc. proposes to develop a cost effective, lightweight, fire resistant, damage tolerant polymer composite foundation adapter. The composite material will providesubstantial weight savings while having comparable strength and stiffness to a metal. The composite will not corrode and will not require a corrosion resistant surface treatment that can be damaged or scratched off. This means that the composite will notrequire periodic cleaning and repainting reducing life cycle costs. The composite adapter will utilize materials that meet MIL-STD-2031 fire, smoke and toxicity requirements. In addition to immediate