KARAGOZIAN & CASE, INC. — Department of Defense STTR Phase II: A21C-T020

Description

As bio-based composites see increased use in protective design more robust material data sets and alternative analysis tools are needed.  Improved material characterization and the capability to evaluate close-in effects will enable engineers to evaluate a broader set of design configurations and loading conditions.  Three technical objectives are proposed: comprehensively characterize the ballistic response of wood, initiate development of a high-fidelity analytical capability for wood, and extend/validate the analytical capabilities of the Bio-Composite Blast Load Analysis Software Tool (BCBLAST), a fast-running tool capable of assessing the response of bio-based composites to blast and ballistic loading. To this end a materials test program is proposed. Results from this test program will be used to develop a wood constitutive model for use in finite element analyses. In parallel, a comprehensive CLT ballistic test program is proposed along with improvements to the Phase I BCBLAST tool. Expected outcomes include: dynamic characterization test data, expanded ballistic impact datasets and improved penetration equations, a proof-of-concept wood constitutive model, and an updated version of BCBLAST.  These outcomes provide an advancement of the state-of-knowledge with respect to wood material behavior and improved design tools to advance the deployment of wood materials in protective design settings.