Effects of Sustained Vibration and High Temperature Environments on Polymer Bonded Composite Materials – Phase II: Development and Implementation

The proposed Phase II effort seeks to build upon the technical foundation created in Phase I by further developing, implementing, refining, experimentally validating, and preliminarily deploying well-defined test protocols suitable for assessing the thermomechanical response and potential degradation of polymer-bonded composite materials (e.g., composite energetic materials) under sustained mechanical vibration, and to subsequently transition these protocols to select partners, both within and outside of the Department of Defense. The effort will specifically encompass: (i) the fabrication, acquisition, and set-up of the test hardware designed in Phase I; (ii) the implementation, validation, and refinement of the test protocols designed in Phase I with inert composite samples; (iii) implementation of the final, refined test protocols via parametric studies of the degradation of various inert and energetic materials under mechanical vibration; and (iv) further commercial assessment of various testing, training, and technology transition opportunities in advance of a potential Phase III follow-on. To achieve the stated objectives, Level 6 Engineering LLC personnel will continue to leverage their extensive experience, the unique facilities of the subcontractor, Purdue University, and the outcomes of the Phase I study.