Development of a structurally integrated conformal load-bearing multifunction antenna: overview of the Air Force Smart Skin Structures Technology Demonstration Program

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen J. Lockyer ◽  
Kevin H. Alt ◽  
Robert W. Kinslow ◽  
Han-Pin Kan ◽  
Jayanth N. Kudva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Force ◽  
Demonstration Program ◽  
Load Bearing ◽  
Technology Demonstration ◽  
Smart Skin

Application of Affordable Composite Materials and Processes on UCAV (Extended Abstract)

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve J. Schwedt
Keyword(s):  
Composite Materials ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Flight Test ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Demonstration Program ◽  
Air Vehicle ◽  
Design And Manufacturing ◽  
Technology Demonstration ◽  
Air Vehicles

Abstract The Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) program is an Advanced Technology Demonstration Program funded by DARPA and the Air Force. As a part of the program two demonstration air vehicles were fabricated and assembled for flight test and for demonstrating the affordability of UCAVs. Using advanced design and manufacturing toolsets, the first vehicle, 27 feet long with a 34-foot wingspan, was designed and delivered in 18 months. In addition, unique fabrication, tooling, and assembly techniques were used to produce these vehicles. This presentation will discuss the techniques used that led to the success of the program.

Design and development of a conformal load-bearing smart skin antenna: overview of the AFRL Smart Skin Structures Technology Demonstration (S3TD)

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen J. Lockyer ◽  
Kevin H. Alt ◽  
Daniel P. Coughlin ◽  
Michael D. Durham ◽  
Jayanth N. Kudva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design And Development ◽  
Load Bearing ◽  
Technology Demonstration ◽  
Smart Skin

Parametric Study on Compression Deformation Behavior of Conformal Load-Bearing Smart Skin Antenna Structure

2004 ◽  
Vol 261-263 ◽  
pp. 663-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwang Joon Yoon ◽  
Young Suk Kim ◽  
Young Bae Kim ◽  
J.D. Lee ◽  
Hyun Chul Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parametric Study ◽  
Compressive Load ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Antenna Structure ◽  
Load Bearing ◽  
Shear Moduli ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Compressive Loads ◽  
Smart Skin

In this paper, a simple conformal load-bearing antenna structure smart skin with a multi-layer sandwich structure composed of carbon/epoxy, glass/epoxy, and a dielectric polymer was designed and fabricated. The mechanical properties of each material in the designed smart skin were obtained from experiments. Tests and analyses were conducted to study the behavior of the smart skin under compressive loads. The designed smart skin failed due to buckling before compression failure. The stresses of each layer and the first failed layer of the smart skin were predicted using MSC/NASTRAN. The finite element model was verified by comparing the numerical results from geometrical linear/nonlinear analyses with the measured data. The numerically predicted structural behavior of the smart skin agreed well with the experimental data. The results showed that the carbon/epoxy layer took charge of most of the compressive load, and the first failure occurred in the dielectric layer while the other layers remained safe. A numerical model was used to obtain design data from the parametric study. The effect of changing the design variables on the buckling and compressive behavior of the smart skin was also investigated. As a result, it was confirmed that the transverse shear moduli of the honeycomb core had a serious impact on the buckling load of the smart skin when the shear deformation was considerable.

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