|
Systems Engineering Portfolio
Venting System for Insensitive Munitions
Providing Insensitive
Munitions
Supporting the Department of Defense initiative to
develop insensitive munitions (IM), thermally
activated venting systems offer a safeguard against
unexpected ignition. Whether from contact with heat
or high velocity impact, munitions such as solid rocket
motors (SRM) need to be protected from inadvertent
initiation and the devastating damage it can cause.
SMP Venting Components [2]
Using shape memory polymer (SMP) technology,
CRG has designed
and developed thermally activated venting components
using unique triggering mechanisms for containment
release at a specified temperature. At typical operating
temperatures, the stored energy of an SMP composite
keeps the mechanism in place. In a low-rate heating
environment, the SMP’s activation temperature is
exceeded, allowing the mechanism to return to its
memory shape and vent the internal pressure
generated by a munition’s reacting energetic
material.
CRG has demonstrated successful styrene, cyanate
ester, and epoxy SMP resin systems that allow for a wide range
of tailored activation temperatures customized for specific applications.
Benefits: [3]
•
Usable on a variety of munitions and munitions
containers
•
Tailorable activation temperatures
•
Inexpensive
•
Failsafe
•
No power source needed
•
No maintenance required
Applications: [2]
Included in CRG’s suite of thermally activated venting
systems is a ring designed for releasing solid rocket
motor nozzles and end closures.
An internal retention device is composed of a
segmented, metallic ring attached to an SMP
composite ring. The SMP composite ring is fabricated in
a smaller diameter memory shape and then heated and
expanded in diameter to fit the rocket motor’s closure.
When cooled in this new shape, the SMP ring becomes
rigid again. Under specific excess heat conditions, the
SMP ring softens and returns to its smaller-diameter
memory shape, pulling the metal ring segments inward
with it, releasing the closure, and safely venting the
system. [1]
|
