SITIS Topic Details |
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| Proposals Accepted: | |
| Program: | SBIR |
| Topic Number: | AF103-003 (AirForce) |
| Title: | Active Attachment Concepts for Aircraft Access Covers and Electronics Equipment | Research & Technical Areas: | Materials/Processes |
| Objective: | Develop innovative, active, microscale, mechanical attachment design concepts for aircraft access covers and electronics equipment that can be actuated with an advanced electro mechanical mechanism.
| Description: | Modern air vehicles are packed with numerous subsystems and line replaceable units (LRU). Access to these subsystems and equipment and their attachment to the airframe results in significant maintenance costs and integration weight. Access panels currently make up a significant amount of acreage on the outer mold line of advanced military aircraft. A typical aircraft has thousands of mechanical fasteners in the outer mold-line to attach these panels. Attachment of subsystems and LRUs to the airframe typically requires build up and numerous mechanical fasteners as well. This conventional attachment approach inhibits the airframe designer from completely exploiting the cost and weight savings benefits of unitized structure. Compounding the problem, numerous specialized tools are necessary for fastener removal during the maintenance process. Ideally, mechanical fasteners would be replaced by concepts featuring a captive fastening approach that react to airframe loads yet enable quick disconnects such as hook and loop that can be released through a controllable material shape change phenomenon such as shape memory, piezoelectric, or other similar mechanism. The preceding are merely examples used for illustrative purposes and do not represent preferred methods. Development of such a concept could positively impact a large number of Air Force platforms; therefore, it is desirable to develop a solution that could be applicable to as many platforms requirements as possible, while addressing the unique loading and environmental requirements of the different platforms.
Additional airworthiness and natural environmental considerations are a necessity for development. The natural environment is defined in accordance with self-sustained worldwide operations over the temperature range of -40F to +120F and the following: up to 100 percent humidity to include condensation; meet the salt atmosphere requirement in MIL-STD-810F, method 509.4; operate in a sand and dust environment as defined by MIL-E-5400, para 3.2.24.7; withstand exposure to fungus as specified in MIL-STD-810F, method 508.5; withstand exposure to solar radiation at altitudes from sea level to 30,000 ft; withstand unpressurized environment from sea level to the ceiling of applicable aircraft; and be able to operate in the applicable vibration/acoustic environment peculiar to the C-130. The solution shall not incur damage or fail when subjected to normal levels of shock, it shall withstand rapid decompression, shall not degrade in a biological or chemical environment (and be operable by personnel in representative personal protective equipment PPE), and survive exposure to the fluids common to the C-130.
| PHASE I: Demonstrate the basic feasibility of the fastening concept. Demonstrate controlled attachment and detachment and fundamental mechanical strength and durability.
| PHASE II: Demonstrate application of the concept to a representative aircraft structural component. Demonstrate mechanical strength, durability and damage tolerance in a representative airframe environment.
| PHASE III | DUAL USE COMMERCIALIZATION: Military Application: All Air Force systems will benefit from this technology. The technology is not specific to a vehicle size or type.
Commercial Application: This technology will be widely applicable to commercial and civil aviation aircraft.
| References: | 1. Hook and Loop Attachment Concepts for Structure, Air Force Technical Report: WL-TR-92-3102, 1992, DTIC Accession AD#B169369. 2. Allen J. Lockyer, Kevin H. Alt, Jayanth N. Kudva, and James Tuss, "Air vehicle integration issues and considerations for CLAS successful implementation," Proc. SPIE Vol. 4332, pp. 48-59, in Smart Structures and Materials 2001: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies; Anna-Maria R. McGowan, Ed., Jun 2001. 3. Savas Berber, Young-Kyun Kwon, and David Toma´nek,"Bonding and Energy Dissipation in a Nanohook Assembly," Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, 17 October 2003. |
| Keywords: | aircraft, racks, fasteners, maintainability, access covers |
Questions and Answers: |
Q: Can you please post a link to reference 1? I cannot find it in DTIC. Thank you. |
A: . . . response pending . . . |
As of midnight September 1, questions for solicitations SBIR 10.3 and STTR 10.B will no longer be accepted.
To read the solicitation for full proposal preparation and submission details click here. |