Lightweight Combat Vehicle S and T Campaign
Abstract
Lightweight vehicles are critical to the future of United States security and global U.S. Army dominance. Army ground vehicles continue to gain weight due to continually added threat mitigation technologies and despite significant S and T investments in lightweight material research and development. This report details the results of a year-long study investigating Army, academic and industrial material science programs and Army light-weighting technologies. The current materials investment portfolio requires sustained investment; there are many significant gaps inhibiting transition of these materials to vehicles. The report describes a lack of overarching lightweight requirements and oversight to help avoid performance versus weight tradeoffs. Currently, aerospace and automotive industries invest in optimization tools, experimental methods, and train their workforce to use them. Industry experts estimate that the Army is 20-25 years behind private industry in these areas. This report recommends that the Army increase investment in experimental methods to understand the fundamental physics of failure for vehicle components; establish light-weighting metrics; continue investment in supporting manufacturing technologies; and increase investment in design optimization tools, techniques, and training.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 06, 2014
- Accession Number
- AD1010791
Entities
People
- Andrew Littlefield
- Christopher Haines
- Erik Polsen
- Lynne Krogsrud
- Robert A. Carter
- William Oberle
Organizations
- United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center