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N193-138
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TITLE:
Lightweight Run-flat Tire/Wheel Assemblies for Marine Corps Wheeled Vehicles
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TECHNOLOGY
AREA(S): Ground/Sea Vehicles
ACQUISITION
PROGRAM: PEO LS, Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
OBJECTIVE:
Develop lightweight run-flat tire/wheel assemblies for Marine Corps Wheeled
Vehicles by using innovative materials, design, manufacturing processes, and
test methodology to provide increased survivability and mobility on/off paved
roads and in water.
DESCRIPTION:
A run-flat tire is a pneumatic tire designed to resist the effects of deflation
when punctured, and to enable the vehicle to continue to be driven at reduced
speeds for limited distances. Military run-flat tires have traditionally used
an insert installed in the pneumatic tire that can support the weight of the
vehicle in the event of a loss of pressure. These inserts are heavy and add
significant un-sprung, rotating mass that reduce ride quality and decrease
vehicle fuel efficiency. Run-flats function by providing a minimal rolling
radius, thus ensuring adequate traction and acceptable longevity over a
specified maximum speed and range of operations. Run-flats provide immediate
mobility following a flat but are designed to be used in emergency situations
as their use results in the degradation of the tire.
The Marine Corps needs lightweight run-flat tire/wheel designs for military
vehicles that increase the survivability and mobility of tactical and combat
vehicles. The designs can use the existing or a modified Central Tire Inflation
System (CTIS) and should consider the effects on the drivetrain of running
tires of different diameters. The wheel assembly of interest has a 53-inch
diameter using a 16 R 20 tire. The run-flat must maintain a minimum distance of
17 inches from the ground to the center of the wheel under individual wheel
loads up to 11,500 lbs. The objective weight for the lightweight run-flat is
less than 50 pounds but must be lighter than 75 pounds. The cost for a
lightweight run-flat should be less than $2,000 per tire for a 75-pound design
but could be higher for lighter weight designs. The run-flat must allow the
vehicle to maintain mobility for 25 miles at a speed of 30 mph when one or two
tires are flat, and 5 miles at a speed of 5 mph when three or four are flat on
one side. The design must meet the requirements of SAE J2014 [Ref 1].
PHASE
I: Develop concepts for lightweight run-flat tire/wheel designs that increase
the survivability and mobility of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) by
exploring the use of alternative materials, design, maintainability, and
manufacturing techniques that meet the requirements outlined above. Demonstrate
the feasibility of the concept in meeting the Marine Corps needs. Establish
feasibility by material testing and analytical modeling, as appropriate.
Provide a Phase II plan that includes designs for tactical vehicles and
identifies performance goals, key technical milestones, and addresses technical
risks.
PHASE
II: Build prototypes for material testing and analytical modeling as
appropriate. Support evaluation of the prototypes to determine if the
performance goals defined in the Phase II development plan and the requirements
outlined in SAE J2014 [Ref 1] and TOP 02-2-698 [Ref 2] have been met.
Demonstrate system performance through prototype evaluation and modeling to
include Mission Profile Run Flat, Paved Run Flat, Tire Traction, Vehicle
Evasive Maneuver, Bead Unseating, Rolling Resistance, Dimensional Criteria, and
Mechanical Reliability (Off-road Durability). Refine the designs based on the
results of testing/modeling. Prepare a Phase III plan to transition the technology
to the Marine Corps and the commercial marketplace.
PHASE
III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Conduct full-scale application, testing,
demonstration, implementation, and commercialization.
The technologies developed under this SBIR would have direct application to
other Department of Defense applications including other services� Run Flat
Tire/Wheel Assemblies on Combat and Tactical Wheeled Vehicles. Additional
applications would include government and private security industries for
personal protection, the banking industry, and police armored vehicles.
REFERENCES:
1.
SAE J2014 - Pneumatic Tire/Wheel/Run flat Assembly Qualifications for Military
Tactical Wheeled Vehicles. https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j2014_201303/
2.
Test Operations Procedure (TOP 02-2-698) � Run flat Testing. https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a622562.pdf
KEYWORDS:
Run-flat; Run-flat Wheel Assembly; Tires; Wheels; Mobility; Survivability
** TOPIC NOTICE **
These Navy Topics are part of the overall DoD 2019.3 SBIR BAA. The DoD issued its 2019.3 BAA SBIR pre-release on August 23, 2019, which opens to receive proposals on September 24, 2019, and closes October 23, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET.
Direct Contact with Topic Authors. From August 23 to September 23, 2019 this BAA is issued for Pre-Release with the names of the topic authors and their phone numbers and e-mail addresses. During the pre- release period, proposing firms have an opportunity to contact topic authors by telephone or e-mail to ask technical questions about specific BAA topics. Questions should be limited to specific information related to improving the understanding of a particular topic�s requirements. Proposing firms may not ask for advice or guidance on solution approach and you may not submit additional material to the topic author. If information provided during an exchange with the topic author is deemed necessary for proposal preparation, that information will be made available to all parties through SITIS (SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System). After this period questions must be asked through SITIS as described below.
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