Application of lightweighting technology to military aircraft, vessels, and vehicles
By: Committee on Benchmarking the Technology and Application of Lightweighting, National Materials and Manufacturing Board, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, National Research Council of the National Academies
Contributors: National Research Council (U.S.). National Materials and Manufacturing Board
Publisher: National Academies Press
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 147
ISBN-13: 9780309221665
Subjects: Military Vehicles; Military Airplanes; Warships; Design and construction
Description: "Lightweighting is a concept well known to structural designers and engineers in all applications areas, from laptops to bicycles to automobiles to buildings and airplanes. Reducing the weight of structures can provide many advantages, including increased energy efficiency, better design, improved usability, and better coupling with new, multifunctional features. While lightweighting is a challenge in commercial structures, the special demands of military vehicles for survivability, maneuverability and transportability significantly stress the already complex process. Application of lightweighting technology to military aircraft, vessels, and vehicles assesses the current state of lightweighting implementation in land, sea, and air vehicles and recommends ways to improve the use of lightweight materials and solutions. This book considers both lightweight materials and lightweight design; the availability of lightweight materials from domestic manufacturers; and the performance of lightweight materials and their manufacturing technologies. It also considers the 'trade space'--that is, the effect that use of lightweight materials or technologies can have on the performance and function of all vehicle systems and components. This book also discusses manufacturing capabilities and affordable manufacturing technology to facilitate lightweighting ... [and] will be of interest to the military, manufacturers and designers of military equipment, and decision makers"--Publisher's description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.

Also available in Open Book format via the National Academies Press home page.
Table of contents: title: Background and motivation; title: Lightweighting airborne vehicles; title: Lightweighting maritime vehicles; title: Lightweighting land-based vehicles; title: Cross-cutting issues and challenges; title: Findings and recommendations; title: Appendixes.