Light Weight Composite Components for Naval Systems

PEI is proposing innovative design and development of advanced composite components that will extend part/system service life and reduce maintenance costs across the fleet. Corrosion has been identified as a primary cause of escalating preservation costs and premature service failure. Components designed and fabricated using advanced composite materials offer such advantages as: high strength and stiffness/weight ratio, corrosion resistance, manufacturing flexibility, environmental stability, and low signature. Through the development of new materials and additives, composite structures can also afford Fire, Smoke and Toxicity performance, resistance to high temperatures, and long-term durability and toughness. The Navy currently makes use of composites in many critical and demanding applications, specifically to address corrosion issues as well as for weight reduction. Lower weight structures provide for a more stable vessel, and offer opportunities to add on critical hardware that simply wasn’t feasible at the current weight. This Phase II project proposal describes a development approach for composite components for Navy systems such as Outboard Electronic Canisters and propulsion components. The proposed activities will be primarily focused on the evaluation and selection of materials, the design and analyses of components, and specimen and sub-element testing.