You are here

Development of Materials for Load bearing Sonar Windows

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N00014-06-M-0158
Agency Tracking Number: N061-084-0274
Amount: $69,969.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N06-084
Solicitation Number: 2006.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2006-08-10
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2007-05-10
Small Business Information
9063 Bee Caves Road
Austin, TX 78733
United States
DUNS: 625120902
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 John Bulluck
 Project Manager
 (512) 263-2101
 jbulluck@tri-austin.com
Business Contact
 Monte Fellingham
Title: Contracts Administrator
Phone: (512) 263-2101
Email: mfellingham@tri-austin.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

New better performing, high modulus, acoustic windows are required by the Navy for the DD(X ) and other programs. The new window materials requirements are strength, high modulus, low lossiness, inert, and acoustically well matched with seawater. The proposed new materials will be developed using commercial of the shelf (COTS) raw materials, inexpensive, and easy to fabricate, resulting in significant cost savings in initial cost and supportability. The proposed new load bearing syntactic materials will be tailored to match both the density and sound speed transmission properties of water. The most viable candidates will be based upon highly halogenated precursors. In order to accomplish this TRI/Austin will use a rational experimental design approach to methodically screen syntactic compositions. The compositions will be screened using ASTM mechanical property, density tests, and ultrasonics for sound speed. Panels will be prepared at the conclusion of the Phase I and tested for sound speed and insertion loss as a function of frequency. The option period involves additional formulation optimization and testing, including the production of additional panels, and information on the reflectivity and shear sound speed of the two best panels, as a function of frequency and incidence angle. BENEFITS: While the primary application of the new sonar window materials is for the DDX, supplementary applications include a variety of Naval vessels. These new window materials can be used in the production of new load bearing rigid castable plastics with broadly adjustable acoustic properties.

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

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government