ELASTOMERIC MATRIX MATERIALS FOR USE IN AIRCRAFT PRIMARY STRUCTURES EVALUATION

THE TREND IN FUTURE U.S. ARMY AIRCRAFT IS TOWARD INCORPORATION OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS IN PRIMARY STRUCTURES TO ACHIEVE WEIGHT REDUCTIONS AND LOWER PRODUCTION COSTS. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY THE ALL COMPOSITE AIRFRAME PROGRAM (ACAP) CURRENTLY BEING FUNDED BY THE ARMY. HOWEVER, THE POTENTIAL WEIGHT SAVINGS IS NOT BEING REALIZED DUE TO THE NEED TO OVERDESIGN TO ACCOUNT FOR THE INHERENTLY BRITTLE NATURE OF CURRENTLY-AVAILABLE MATRIX MATERIALS. THE RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH STRAIN ELASTOMERIC MATRIX MATERIALS OFFERS SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL TO ACHIEVE HIGH IMPACT RESISTANCE WHILE MAINTAINING GOOD MECHANICAL PROPERTIES UNDER HOT/WET CONDITIONS. THE PROPOSED STUDY WILL IDENTIFY CANDIDATE ELASTOMERIC MATRIX SYSTEMS BASED ON PUBLISHED MECHANICAL PROPERTY DATA; ESTABLISH A STANDARD IMPACT TEST PROCEDURE; AND SELECT PROMISING MATRIX SYSTEMS BASED ON TOLERANCE TO IMPACT DAMAGE DERIVED FROM THE TEST RESULTS.