Develop Efficient/Leak Proof M1 Abrams Plenum Seal

A Subsequent Phase II proposal has been written that extends the results from Phase II and outlines a path to produce an improved plenum seal for the M1 Abrams tank. The Subsequent Phase II will focus on developing a well-engineered, improved seal to meet the requirements defined in Phase I and II. It will involve improving the design developed in Phase II to achieve an efficient, leak proof seal. FEA simulations of the new designs will be done to characterize seal performance and finalize the concept. A molding process and tooling will be developed to produce several prototype seals for testing both in a lab environment and in the field. The final result will be a product that reduces the amount of FOD intrusion into the turbine and increases the amount of hours between turbine overhaul thereby reducing the cost of operation and repair.