SBIR-STTR Award

A combined experimental and analytical study is planned to develop advanced composite piping systems. Dual wall pipe will be developed and tested for improved impact resistance and toughness. Epoxy and polyester resins will be used in composite pipe sections and bonded with epoxy adhesives as well as with heat-shrinkable ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and advanced elastmeric couplings and tested bending and torsion at temperatures to 300 deg f under internal pressure. Commercially available endothermic and fire retardant blankets will be incorporated in composite pipe systems to be tested and evaluated to meet stringent fire/smoke/toxicity requirements. An assessment of graphitized carbon fibers, which has been successfully used in experiments for electrical power transmission will be performed especially for use in fuel piping applications. Simple models will be constructed to establish the computer optimization scheme of the piping properties, the governing equation for the system perform_ ance, and the empirical equations for the composite piping behavior. The primary objective is to provide design data for the development of a strong, lightweight, easy to install and repair, composite pipe system to replace exotic alloys used in corrosive applications.

A combined experimental and analytical study is planned to continue the project started under Phase-I to develop advanced composite pipe systems for on-board ship applications. Work completed in the Phase-I program indicated the use of high temperature cured epoxy resins and vinyl ester resins with flexibilizers combined with different orientation of the glass fiber pattern in the pipe wall could substantially improve the compression, tension and bending strength of composite pipe. New manufacturing equipment will be designed which will place the reinforcement in optimum positions to withstand the severe external pressure loadings required of on-board ship piping systems. New joining methods will be developed, and tested under tension/torsional loads. Extensive testing measuring flammability and smoke/toxicity levels will be conducted in conjunction with the institute for environmental studies at louisiana state university. Dual wall pipe will be manufactured to determine cost effectiveness in an effort to further improve impact and fire resistance. Conductive piping systems will be developed together with tests methods to measure Electrostatic Discharge (ESD). Louisiana state university will conduct theoretical analysis on mechanics of composite materials to guide researches in current and future work.