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Advanced Structural Development for Naval Hovercraft Ramps (MSC P4151)
Title: Chief Technical Officer
Phone: (215) 542-8400
Email: tony@materials-sciences.com
Phone: (215) 542-8400
Email: gash@materials-sciences.com
The current welded aluminum ramps on the Navy’s Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) hovercraft are prone to damage related to extreme vehicle and seaway load requirements in combination with corrosion and erosion due to the harsh salt-laden marine environment in which they operate. Improving durability, corrosion resistance and life cycle cost of the air cushioned vehicle (ACV) ramps at minimum weight is paramount to achieving operational goals of future platforms such as the Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC). The innovation and opportunity offered in this proposal is an approach for simultaneously reducing the weight, while improving the durability and corrosion resistance of ACV ramps using fiber reinforced composite materials. To accomplish this objective, an Integrated Product Team (IPT) of composite designers and fabricators has been assembled to develop lightweight, advanced material solutions and structural designs for typical ACV ramp configurations.
* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *