Firm:

          

CFD Research Corporation

          

   

Address:

          

6820 Moquin Drive NorthWest, Huntsville, AL 35806 - 2900

          

   

Phone:

          

(256) 715-6918                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

University of Dayton Research Institute

          

   

Address:

          

300 College Park, OH 45469 - 0101

          

   

Phone:

          

(937) 229-2919                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Dr. Rae Waxman Ph.D

          

   

E-mail:

          

rae.waxman@cfdrc.com

          

   

Address:

          

701 McMillian Way Northwest, Suite D, AL 35806 - 2923

          

   

Phone:

          

(256) 726-4800                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Silvia Harvey

          

   

E-mail:

          

proposals-contracts@cfd-research.com

          

   

Address:

          

701 McMillian Way Northwest, Suite D, AL 35806 - 2923

          

   

Phone:

          

(256) 715-6918                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :                                                                                                                                                          
Begin: 3
End: 5

          

          

     

Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words):

Lightweight, advanced structural materials are needed to enable affordable space exploration beyond lower Earth orbit. Composites have been studied and used for these applications for decades, but are still limited to off-optimal, quasi-isotropic designs. Integration of dissimilar fiber layups and novel matrix materials in the composite structure can lead to significant improvements in material properties and performance. However, there is currently no commercial tool to evaluate and design advanced highly tailorable composites with optimal load paths and minimized thermal expansion coefficients.

In the proposed effort, CFD Research and University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) will develop a dual-mode finite element method-based composites design toolkit to model and predict material performance based on various input parameters and loading conditions. Relevant material systems and demonstration cases will be selected in consultation with NASA. Complex mesh generation will be performed in Python, and thermo-structural modeling will be conducted in a well-established FEM software. The toolkit will be flexible, modular, and adopt and open architecture to provide insight into the workflow. Two modes of operation will be enabled: manual parameter selection by the user; and an automated optimization mode, that reads in parameters and constraints from the users, and then performs sensitivity analysis and optimization across the design space.

In Phase I, we will develop the modeling framework and demonstrate key functionality on a representative case. During Phase II, the team will incorporate a detailed composites processing modeling software for more realistic fiber architectures and to assess manufacturability and processing conditions. We will perform microscale damage analysis, and upscale and homogenize material modeling to capture the component or part scale performance under use conditions as part of the overall design workflow.

          

          

     

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

Any NASA application requiring lightweight, advanced materials could benefit from this solution, including:

• pressurized structures, e.g., crew modules/habitats
• dry and unpressurized structures, e.g., thermally stable telescope arrays like the Large Ultraviolet / Optical / Infrared Surveyor, solar arrays, truss structures for landers and rovers
• smaller structural composites, e.g., brackets and hinges
• damage/fatigue-tolerant structures

Directly supports NASA programs including Artemis/HLS, air-launched systems, and next-generation airframes.

          

          

     

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

This composite design toolkit will benefit government agencies (DoD, DOE) and contractors (GE, Rolls Royce, Lockheed Martin) developing high-temperature materials for adverse environments, e.g., gas turbine engines, hypersonic vehicles for defense and commercial platforms. Other commercial applications: wind turbine blades, sporting equipment, medical devices and protective equipment, automobiles.

          

          

     

Duration:     13