Industry/University Cooperative Projects Center
| Agilent | COBE Cardiovascular | Ford Motor Company | Lockheed-Martin |
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| Ball Packaging | CTD | ICAST | Nastic Actuator Development |
| Boeing | CONMED | Intel | Sikorsky |
Lockheed-Martin
Overview
Lockheed-Martin is a huge aircraft-aerospace, and systems development-manufacturing company. They have a large Astronautics division in southwest Denver that is involved with the development and manufacture of space launch vehicles, including rockets and satellites. They employ mechanical engineers who work in heat transfer, dynamics, design, fluids, etc. They have facilities throughout the U.S.
Develop a Bonded Joint Using Composite Sandwich Technology
The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) uses a longeron (special framing member) that is attached to a backshell assembly via bonded titanium clips, bolts and special potting inserts. It is desired to improve this connection with an assembly that is easier to manufacture and lower in cost. Additionally there is a coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch in the present design between the titanium clips and the composite backshell. It is desired to develop a new joint that uses less parts, does not have the CTE mismatch, etc.
Thus, the aim is to make use of composite technology in designing the new connection joint. Students will be required to develop the details of the connecting joint, perform failure tests on small test samples in order to determine performance and design optimization for the joint. This test information can then be used on FEM models to simulate large joints. Final build and test of these new joints would follow. Students will use the Lockheed-Martin composites laboratory at their Astronautics facility during this project.