Undersea Vehicle Science and Technologies: Multifunctional Structural Batteries, Materials for Extreme Environments and Multi-Metal Additive Manufacturing
Abstract
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASEBuilding on our existing grant # N00014-21-1-2815, we propose a basic research effort that aims to develop the necessary science and technology that can help the undersea vehicles become lighter and more maneuverable and resist failure under extreme environments and loading scenarios that they are expected to operate under.Focus Area 1. Solid State Lithium Ion Batteries for Naval Applications: Solid state batteries (SSBs) hold enormous promise towards realizing intrinsically safer alternatives to conventional lithium ion batteries (LIBs) with higher energy density that can meet the Navy#s current and future onboard stored energy and power demands. Here we aim to develop hybrid composite design concept using high voltage active cathodes to increase the active cathode mass loading with the target of going beyond 2 mAh/cm2 (equivalent to ~15 mg/cm2). The composite cathode formulation will utilize a solid polymer electrolyte to increase solid-interfacial contactthat is expected to be beneficial for increased active mass loading in the composite structure. The composite cathode will then be paired with a mechanically strong solid electrolyte separator such as a ceramic (garnet LLZO) or ceramic based polymer composite. The proposed configuration will be optimized for impedance and safety. Further, we will explore a bi-layer solid electrolyte design with engineered stress to suppress dendrite growth, which enhances life and safety.Focus Ares 2: Materials with engineered meso-scale structures for undersea applications through multi-material 3D printing: We propose a collaborative effort to design, fabricate and characterize light-weight structural composite materials with engineered meso-scale architectures that can deliver superior performance under extreme loading conditions such as shock, blastor impact loading. The goal is to employ multi-material additive manufacturing science and technologies to fabricate high-performance lightweight materials and to engineer composite meso-structures to withstand a wide range of quasistatic and dynamic loading at high pressures, strain rates and temperature. Such engineered meso-architected materials will be of immense benefit to Navy for protection of structures in harsh environments. The effort will combine fabrication of meso-scale architected materials, experimental characterization, theoretical and computational modeling to optimize resistance to failure modes such as fracture and localization and employ machine learning methods for arriving at optimal 3D architectures.Focus Area 3. Soft tissue and cell damage under impact and shock loads: Underwater shock waves or blunt impacts can cause serious injury to marine mammals and sub-sea surface warfighters, including marine divers, navy members in a submarine, and navy members inside a vessel. The mechanical loads from the shock wave or blunt impact cause damage to the tissues and extracellular matrix (ECM) and injury to cell populations. Mechanics plays an important role in the soft tissue response, damage, and pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI), pulmonary hemorrhage and edema, and GI hemorrhaging. At the fundamental level, the injuries result from an applied load causing microscopic and macroscopic damage in a soft material. The proposed research aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of mechanical damage, micro/macro fractures in soft tissues, and the loss of cell functions (cell injury) due to applied loads. We propose to experimentally study andmathematically model microscopic and macroscopic soft tissue deformation and damage. This will be accomplished through in vitro mechanical experimentation on tissue and tissue-mimicking gels. We also aim to experimentally study injury at the cell level and develop predictive cell injury models linked with the above continuum tissue scale damage models.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 24, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312688
Entities
People
- Pradeep Guduru
Organizations
- Brown University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy