Research and Development

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Along with design and testing services, Structural Composites provides leadership and industry advancement through our innovative research and development programs. Among our major composites R&D programs and accomplishments are:

U.S. Navy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) MARITECH Program to develop a composite ship superstructure system. This is a joint "partnership" with STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES leading the effort and Ingalls Shipbuilding, American Bureau of Shipping, and Naval Sea Systems Command as participating partners.

U.S. Navy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) MARITECH Program for advanced materials technology as applied to ship design and construction. The University of California at San Diego leads this effort, and STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES is a subcontractor tasked with fire performance and structural integrity.

A composite rudder for the Navy's Mine Countermeasure ships was developed as well as the closed mold manufacturing process. Lockheed Martin was the prime contractor for this project, and STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES was the subcontractor responsible for the manufacturing process development and first article fabrication. The process is depicted in the photos. Mine Countermeasure Ship	Start with the Nickel-Aluminum-Bronze inner hub.
	Inner hub is built up with core material.
	Hub/core assembly is wrapped with reinforcement materials.
	Rudder "preform" ready for insertion into clamshell mold.
	Clamshell mold and process control equipment ready to receive preform.
	First Test Rudder

U.S. Navy Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I Program: Development of a New Composite Manufacturing Process for Special Forces Maritime Craft.

U.S. Navy Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I Program: Energy Absorptive Resin Materials for Undersea Structure Radiated Noise Reduction.

U.S. Navy Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II Program: Study of Fire Performance of Composite Materials in a Submarine Environment.

U.S. Navy Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I Program: Effects of Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Composites in Submarines.

UNISYS Corporation Research Program: Composite Material Studies for U.S. Navy Special Warfare Applications.

Hoechst Celanese Corporation Research, Development and Technical Support Program: Use of Trevira® Fabrics in Composites.