COMPOSITE CANISTER PROFILE MANUFACTURING BY PULTRUSION PROCESS.

Canister systems are used for the purpose to hold, launch, and transport missiles. Metallic materials are generally preferred in canisters due to their well-known production techniques. Composites in canisters has been started to use for lowering production costs and weights while increasing the performance of missile systems. There are several manufacturing methods such as RTM (Resin Transfer Molding), fiber placement, 3D braiding, thermoplastic injection, and filament winding for canister production. However, none of these methods is a continuous process and cost-efficient. On the other hand, the pultrusion method is a cost-effective and automated process for manufacturing continuous, constant cross-section composite profiles. In this paper, the manufacturing route of a complex shaped pultruded canister profile, materials selection stages, material and part characterization procedures used in our project are presented. The design stage of a canister is given by examining the requirements of canister system. Material alternatives are evaluated by taking pultrusion process and canister requirements into consideration. Physical, thermal, and mechanical tests are conducted during materials selection, process optimization, qualification, and mass production stages of the project. Firing tests from canister profile are followed through as the system qualification. Design, test, and manufacturing stages of pultruded canister profile are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]