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Fiber Reinforced Shape Changing Polymer Composites

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Contract: W31P4Q-06-C-0263
Agency Tracking Number: 06ST1-0071
Amount: $98,618.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: ST061-007
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2006-07-11
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2007-01-28
Small Business Information
2780 Skypark Drive
Torrance, CA 90505
United States
DUNS: 106823607
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: Yes
Principal Investigator
 Jeff Rodrian
 Principal Investigator
 (310) 626-8364
 jrodrian@nextgenaero.com
Business Contact
 Zoltan Feher
Title: Contracts and Pricing
Phone: (310) 626-8384
Email: zfeher@nextgenaero.com
Research Institution
 UNIV. OF PITTSBURGH
 Allen DiPalma
 
350 Thackeray Hall Office of Research
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
United States

 (412) 624-7400
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

With the recent development of structures that enable morphing aircraft, there is a need for a skin material capable of high in-plane strains while resisting aerodynamic loads. NextGen Aeronautics has partnered with the University of Pittsburgh to develop a fiber reinforced shape memory (SMP) matrix composite material for morphing wing skins. By pairing a fiber with an SMP matrix a composite is created that will withstand high out-of-plane surface pressures yet once activated the SMP will facilitate actuation with low external energy requirements. NextGen Aeronautics will combine its knowledge from the development of FlexSkin, a skin capable of large in-plane shearing, with University of Pittsburgh expertise in the area of developing smart and morphing materials. The objective of the Phase I research is to demonstrate a fiber reinforced composite with an SMP matrix that is capable of 60 degrees in-plane shearing. The ability to undergo large shearing shape changes and the out-of-plane stiffness will be demonstrated experimentally. Phase II will focus on improving the activation mechanism of the SMP and the response time of the shape change. The team will demonstrate the integration of the skin onto large morphing aircraft structures.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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