LASER HARDENING EXTERNAL PROTECTION MATERIALS (EPM)

THIS PROGRAM EVALUATES THE USE OF EXTERNAL PROTECTION MATERIAL (EPM) FOR HARDENING U.S. ICBMS TO FOREIGN LASER THREATS. BOTH CONTINUOUS WAVE AND PULSED LASERS ARE CONSIDERED. THE PROGRAM FIRST COLLECTS AND EVALUATES MATERIALS TEST DATA RELATIVE TO ITS THREAT APPLICABILITY. THE MORE PROMISING OF THE MATERIALS ARE THEN SYNTHESIZED INTO EPM LAYUPS. THESE LAYUPS INCLUDE THE STRUCTURED SUBSTRATE MATERIAL AND ARE EVALUATED AS HARDENED SYSTEMS RELATIVE TO THE LASER THREATS. THE EVALUATIONS ARE ACCOMPLISHED RELATIVE TO OPERATIONAL FAILURE MECHANISMS AND CONSIDERATIONS SUCH AS EXPECTED BEAM CONDITIONS, MACH AND PRESSURE EFFECTS, AND THE MATERIAL'S INITIAL THERMAL STATE. THESE LAYUP EVALUATIONS ARE ACCOMPLISHED WITH VERAC'S INTEGRATED VULNERABILITY APPROACH (VIVA) SO THAT UNCERTAINTIES IN MANUFACTURING TOLERANCES, MATERIALS PROPERTIES AND ENGAGEMENT CONDITIONS CAN BE DIRECTLY INCLUDED IN THE RESULTS. THE MOST PROMISING LAYUPS ARE IDENTIFIED FOR FURTHER COMBINED EFFECTS ANALYSES IN PHASE II WITH X-RAY LASERS AND NUCLEAR WEAPON EFFECTS.