Cylindrical Lattice Structure for Composite Munition Reinforcement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Airborne munitions with carbon fiber composite casings face challenges in achieving comparable strength to metal casings while maintaining a sufficient volume for bulk explosive material, as they require increased thickness to support the explosive material effectively, leading to weight and volume limitations.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical lattice structure with compartmentalized longitudinal flowable paths is created using additive manufacturing, which is inserted into a carbon fiber composite tube, providing stiffness and supporting the explosive material while allowing for reduced wall thickness and increased internal volume, utilizing a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) design to enhance fluid permeability and prevent air pockets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If carbon fiber composite casing thickness is increased to achieve comparable strength to metal casings, then strength is improved, but available volume for bulk explosive material is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the internal space of the casing into multiple compartments using partition walls. This segmentation allows the explosive material to be contained in separate sections, preventing catastrophic failure from propagating through the entire casing and enabling thinner wall designs while maintaining overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses carbon fiber composite materials for the casing construction, which provide high strength-to-weight ratio and comparable strength to metal casings at reduced thickness. The composite material structure, combined with the compartmentalized design, achieves the required strength while maximizing internal volume for explosive material.
2Volume of moving object
If carbon fiber composite casing wall thickness is reduced to increase available volume, then volume is improved, but strength and support capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the internal volume into compartments, the structure can use thinner walls while maintaining strength through the distributed compartment design. Each compartment independently supports its contents, reducing the burden on individual wall sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates a porous absorptive material within the compartmentalized structure to support the bulk explosive material. This porous structure provides mechanical support and prevents catastrophic failure while allowing thin casing walls, thus maximizing internal volume while maintaining strength.
3Strength
If traditional metal casing is used to provide strength and resistance to premature rupturing, then strength is improved, but weight increases limiting active payload
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces traditional metal casings with carbon fiber composite materials that provide comparable strength and resistance to premature rupturing at significantly reduced weight. This weight reduction increases the active payload capacity of the munition while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The compartmentalized design using thin-walled carbon fiber composite sections provides the required strength through distributed structural support rather than relying on heavy solid walls, achieving weight reduction while maintaining strength capabilities.
4Ease of manufacture
If interior of cylindrical casing is kept free of structural impediments to avoid air entrapment, then ease of filling is improved, but support to hardened bulk explosive material deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The porous absorptive material is pre-placed within the compartmentalized structure before filling with bulk explosive material. This preliminary placement ensures proper support structure is in position to prevent catastrophic failure, while the compartmentalized design still allows relatively easy filling through upper apertures.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous absorptive material provides internal support structure within each compartment, preventing catastrophic failure of the bulk explosive material while maintaining ease of filling through the compartmentalized aperture design. The porous structure integrates support functionality without completely blocking the filling path.
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a cylindrical lattice structure inside of a cylindrical tube. The cylindrical lattice structure includes compartmentalized one or more longitudinal flowable paths formed by an additive manufacturing process. A material is introduced in a flowable state into one or more upper apertures of the one or more longitudinal flowable paths to fill the cylindrical lattice structure in a compartmentalized arrangement that provides stiffness to the device.