Innovative Methods for Improved Stowage of Aerial Refueling Hoses

SDI Engineering and Midé Technology have teamed to together to research and develop innovative methods of a new aerial refueling hose design that will allow for greater stowage on a tanker aircraft. The focus of the proposed SBIR Phase I efforts will be towards the development of a new AR hose design configuration using state-of-the-art materials, combined with potential hose reel improvements. The objective is to develop an innovative packaging and/or construction method for stowing aerial refueling hoses that reduces the space required to stow the hose on tanker aircraft while maintaining the fuel flow, aeroelastic and structural performance requirements.  The team will develop a FE model of the AR hose to optimize the hose performance and stowage capability and provide stiffness and damping inputs to SDI’s proprietary AR modeling and simulation software, ARES, which can then be used to analyze the performance of potential hose designs in realistic AR scenarios.  SDI will leverage their experience in reeling system modeling to explore potential changes to the hose reel, packaging, and stowage systems.  The modeling and simulation capability, combined with the team’s experience in AR operations and use of state-of-the-art materials, will help to develop a new hose design that is thinner, smaller diameter, lower flow resistance, and less likely to crush.  Various hose design variables will be considered in the optimization of the hose and several novel hose packaging and stowage systems will be explored, with the objective of increasing the hose length, decreasing the required stowage volume, and also providing superior stiffness and damping characteristics with respect to Legacy hose systems.