Lightweighting and Joining Adhesives for Maintenance

Lightweighting and Joining Adhesives for Maintenance

 

NCMS Project #: 140845

Problem: TARDEC looks to develop dissimilar joining solutions. TARDEC has observed reduced mechanical performance and service life compared to when similar materials are joined. Further, the behavior of the adhesives when subjected to high strain rate loads, such as ballistic impact or shock and blast events is not known. Better understanding adhesive performance under these extreme conditions will benefit the public by identifying the routes to improving the crash worthiness of adhesives used in civilian vehicles.

Benefit: New joining and forming technologies can reduce manufacturing costs as well as reduce costs for longer-term serviceability issues for the end consumers. Reducing military vehicle weight through use of lightweight materials will certainly reduce the logistics burden.

Solution/Approach: As a result of this initiative, at least one joining solution will be developed that meets the TARDEC specification to join one or more new substrates to either traditional or new lightweight substrates. Further, adhesives specifications will be updated with the new joining solution to enable implementation in DoD. Finally, models and experimental studies will help understand the adhesive bond performance at high strain rate loads to provide direction for future development efforts.

Impact on Warfighter:

  • Reduce manufacturing costs
  • Reduce fuel costs

DoD Participation:

  • U.S. Army (TARDEC)

Industry Participation:

  • PPG Industries, Inc.
  • Oakland University
  • NCMS

Technology Focus Area(s):

  • Cost savings
  • Repair turnaround time
  • Maintenance avoidance & reliability