Software Tool Development for Composite Airframe Durability Analysis Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Topic No.: N05-035 Topic Title: Software Tool Development for Composite Airframe Durability Analysis Proposal No.: N051-035-0039 Firm: KaZaK Composites Incorporated 32 Cummings Park Woburn, Massachusetts 01801-2122 Contact: Mark Snyder Phone: (781) 932-5667 Web Site: kazakcomposites.com Abstract: KaZaK Composites proposes to combine several key developments from the DARPA Accelerated Insertion of Materials - Composites (AIM-C) program with a commercial nonlinear finite element code to realize (i) a robust methodology for evaluation of composite structure long-term durability; and (ii) software tools for predicting the onset of failure and tracking damage growth all the way to final failure. The developments from AIM-C will include strain invariant failure theory (SIFT), accelerated testing methodology (ATM), element failure method (EFM), and a software package for material durability evaluation. Phase I efforts will involve (i) extension of fundamental underlying principles governing composite material failure; (ii) initial software development, integration, and testing; (iii) demonstration of capability for predicting composite durability using a simple test specimen; (iv) start of planning for an extensive Phase II testing program to verify the software's predictive capabilities; and (v) a commercialization plan for software tools. This work will help shift current testing-intensive building block approach to airframe certification to one based on using verified analysis tools to perform "virtual" testing and simulation. KaZaK's team includes Professor Stephen Tsai of Stanford University. Professor Tsai is internationally recognized for his career-long contributions to the field of composite materials and structures. Benefits: At the conclusion of a successful Phase I and II effort, the Navy will be in possession of a new and validated methodology plus software tools for the evaluation of the durability of composite airframe components. Assuming a Phase II success, a likely progression of events would include a Phase III commercial purchase of the software by the Navy's airframe contractors as well as by the shipyards building the DDX destroyer. It is reasonable to assume that the Air Force, the Army, and their contractors would be interested in this product as well. A software tool for the evaluation of composite material durability would also be of significant value to the commercial aircraft, marine, and automotive industries. KaZaK Composites plans to commercialize the software tools resulting from this SBIR by selecting the most economically viable of the following two options:  KaZaK directly sells/licenses and supports the software as a stand-alone product that can be interfaced with different commercial finite element codes. This would ensure the widest possible distribution, but would require KaZaK to maintain interfaces to a number of ever-changing finite element programs as well as maintain business relationships with different software developers.  KaZaK licenses the software to an independent vendor for distribution and support, most likely a developer of finite element analysis software. This approach might limit the total number of software sales, but would result in the best possible integration of our Phase I and II developments with a commercial finite element package. Return