Hierarchical Nanocomposite Metamaterials for Shielding Combat Vehicles

In this effort, compact, lightweight, multi-functional metamaterials will be developed for use as panels or structural elements in combat vehicles that absorb radar waves and reduce the thermal signature by shedding the absorbed energy to preferred, undetectable infrared bands. To achieve broadband spectral properties with decades of frequency response, multi-materials additive manufacturing using custom-engineered nanocomposite materials will be used to produce multi-functional load-bearing metamaterial structures. After optimizing the baseline design and identifying the nanocomposite material properties required, the feedstock will be synthesized and, using direct-print manufacturing, prototype samples will be fabricated. The properties of nanocomposite materials and metamaterials will be characterized for radar absorbance and reflectance, and the infrared properties will be verified. The measured data will be used to update the models, and the performance of candidate multi-layer vehicle panel designs will be simulated. In the optional Phase I effort, panels will be fabricated and tested.