SBIR-STTR Award

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I effort will demonstrate the feasibility of a novel passively adaptive shock and vibration isolating buffer system for the US Navys combatant craft. The proposed approach does not rely on conventional passive, semi-active or active spring-damper systems. The buffer system will provide energy damping via a liquid spring buffer and eddy current damping, of which the latter will passively adapt itself to the incoming shock and vibration velocity. Material testing and biodynamic modeling and simulation will be performed, and a system level shock and vibration test will be performed on a mock-up seat. The technical objectives of the work plan are to: (1) Develop a conceptual design of a liquid-spring and eddy current energy absorbing buffer with or without a passively adaptive seating pad to reduce the energy transmitted to the occupant by 50%, (2) Conduct biodynamic modeling and simulation to determine the effectiveness of the system in reducing wave-slam event transmitted energy, (3) Conduct shock and vibration tests to demonstrate the feasibility, (4) Perform cost analysis to demonstrate the cost reduction of 60% compared to existing seating systems, and update technical risk assessment to reduce risks to low, (5) Develop performance goals

Benefit:
The proposed advanced shock and vibration mitigating system will utilize a liquid-spring buffer system with the addition of eddy-current magnetic damping. For wave-slam events, the system will be designed to reduce the transmitted shock levels more than 50%. The system will passively adjust the damping forces due to velocity dependent eddy current damping. Since the damping will be adjusted automatically, the Whole Body Vibration (WBV) levels transmitted to the occupant will be reduced during a given operation time. This will reduce the risk of injuries related to WBV. The immediate market for the proposed system will be 36-88 ft combatant watercraft seat systems. The US military boat manufacturers have been identified and will be approached during Phase I. Other commercial small boat manufacturers will be the target customers once the market barriers are overcome via the Phase I-III effort.

Keywords:
Wave-slam energy, Wave-slam energy, whole body vibration, Liquid spring, Impact absorbing seat, High-speed combatant craft