Advanced composites for structures

Abstract

The Air Force Advanced Development program on high-modulus filaments and composites involves a comprehensive and integrated effort; it involves not only materials development but simultaneous and heavy emphasis on design and fabrication. It includes, as an essential ingredient, the conclusive demonstration of the value of the technology in the product form, which are major advanced composite structural components. The attack on the most rapid and efficient technique for development of the technology is organized along three vertically integrated major lines. These are: reinforcement development, composite materials development, and component development. The brain center of the program is component development, where (by actual design, fabrication, and test of composite materials hardware) direction and emphasis will be given to the filament and composite development efforts. The program areas of primary interest, although concentrating initially on continuous boron and glass filaments with organic matrices, will include other reinforcement materials, reinforcement forms, metallic and inorganic matrices, etc. as dictated by their applicability and importance to the highest payoff composite structural components. The total advanced development technical program, including status and progress, is briefly discussed; and the perspective with related exploratory and manufacturing development activities is treated.