Material Selection/Fabrication Issues for Thermoplastic Fiber Placement

Abstract

The Manufacture of Advanced Composite Submarine Structures (MACSS) program is part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) Maritime Systems Technology Office, Advanced Submarine Technology (AST) program. The program is developing the material product forms, processes, and equipment for automated fabrication of lowcost composite submarine structures. These developments will be demonstrated through fabrication and delivery of subscale and fullscale components of the Composite Dry Deck Shelter (CDDS). This paper will discuss the McDonnell Douglas Aerospace (MDA) thermoplastic fiber placement process, material selection, and machine that make fabrication of largescale submarine structures possible.