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Failure Initiation Prediction for Reliability-Based Design of Hybrid Composite Materials

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA9550-10-C-0027
Agency Tracking Number: F08A-025-0080
Amount: $750,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF08-T025
Solicitation Number: 2008.A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2010
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2009-12-17
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2011-12-17
Small Business Information
210 s. 3rd Suite 202
Laramie, WY 82070
United States
DUNS: 017019105
HUBZone Owned: Yes
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Don Robbins
 Chief Engineer
 (307) 460-4763
 robbinsd@fireholetech.com
Business Contact
 jerad stack
Title: CEO
Phone: (307) 460-4763
Email: stackj@fireholetech.com
Research Institution
 University of Wyoming
 Mark Garnich
 
1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82072
United States

 (307) 766-2949
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

The objective of this project is to develop extensions to Multicontinuum Technology (MCT) that enable accurate and efficient analysis of textile composite structures. In addition, probabilistic analyses will be performed to demonstrate the applicability of MCT for textile composite material selection and structure design. The project will build on the successful two-constituent MCT by generalizing the algorithms that access constituent information so they can be applied routinely to 3 or more constituents. The accessed information will serve as the basis for developing local (mesoscale) material failure predictions as was successfully demonstrated as viable in the Phase I project. These failure prediction capabilities at the local mesoscale will enable enhanced fidelity of material degradation modeling for the development of accurate progressive failure analysis capabilities. The modeling capabilities will be validated by comparison with existing and newly generated experimental data for the weave material and its structural application in a pi-joint. The capabilities developed will be automated for use within the modeling environment of the commercial finite element code ABAQUS® and embodied in the commercial code Helius:MCT®. The methods will be generally applicable for finite element structural analysis of composites composed of textile or hybrid materials. BENEFIT:  A software application capable of simulating the behavior of textile composite structures has wide-spread potential applications. Military applications include aircraft structures like the F-35 / JSF, composite armor for patrol and combat vehicles and next generation helicopter rotors. Commercial application include Wind turbine blades with built-in passive pitch control, advanced sporting goods technology such as golf clubs and tennis racquets, and high end automotive application such as Formula 1 cars. The benefits of the technology proposed include reduced need for costly testing programs, more highly optimized composite designs, as higher degree of confidence when redesigns are necessary, and shorter development cycles for composite structures by enabling more “certification by simulation.”

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

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