{"id":4675,"date":"2012-11-20T14:10:01","date_gmt":"2012-11-20T14:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.compositestoday.com\/?p=4675"},"modified":"2012-11-20T14:11:28","modified_gmt":"2012-11-20T14:11:28","slug":"tape-wrapped-aeroshells-reduces-cost-of-hypersonic-glide-vehicles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.compositestoday.com\/2012\/11\/tape-wrapped-aeroshells-reduces-cost-of-hypersonic-glide-vehicles\/","title":{"rendered":"Tape-Wrapped “Aeroshells” Reduces Cost of Hypersonic Glide Vehicles"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has developed and demonstrated a new process by tape-wrapping large, unique-shaped carbon-carbon aircraft shells, or aeroshells. Aeroshells are formed into a lifting body shape called Hypersonic Glide Vehicles, which are used as the primary structural element and thermal protection for future weapon delivery systems. This is a key element of a Boost-Glide concept for conducting a Prompt Global Strike mission. <\/p>\n

It’s constructed from an array of exotic materials like carbon-carbon, which is used for both the body and aeroshell which provides protection against the extreme temperatures that moving at Mach 20 produces. These parts are built (or rather molded and cured) from piles of polymer composite using a recently unveiled “tape-wrap” process. This fabrication technique drastically cuts the cost of producing these vehicles. This technique requires 10 times fewer parts, 50 percent less human labor, and reduces the production cost by 40 percent per pound of carbon-carbon.<\/p>\n