MKP STRUCTURAL DESIGN ASSOCIATES, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N193-138

Description

The objective of this research is to develop a lightweight run-flat tire/wheel assembly for Marine Corps wheeled vehicles based on our patented auxetic material (also called Negative Poison’s Ratio material) and non-pneumatic tire technologies by using innovative materials, designs, manufacturing processes, as well as our ‘digital twin’ techniques to provide increased survivability and mobility for the Marine Corp applications. Our patented technologies (Figure 1) are ideally suited for the design, production and low-cost manufacture of lightweight runflats. Using our virtual prototyping capabilities, we propose, in cooperation with Oshkosh Corporation, to develop mathematical models, prototypes and validations for a runflat system of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) that: a) weighs less than 50 pounds per tire, b) is fully compatible with the existing Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS), c) can be driven at least 25 miles on/off paved surfaces (at a speed of 30 mph), d) can be driven on-road, off-road and in water, e) can be manufactured for the ACV as well as other DOD and commercial vehicles.