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Lawrence Technological University has been awarded a $1.6 million federal grant to develop and test vehicle armor for the military, through a federal appropriation.
The grant will fund the work conducted by Lawrence Tech’s Center for Innovative Materials Research — opened in 2006 for such efforts as this — in conjunction with the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center and the Army Research Laboratory. Scientists and engineers working with Dr. Nabil Grace, who serves as director of CIMR, will be charged with designing, developing and testing composite armor for military vehicles.
The grant is “absolutely wonderful” news, according to Mark Brucki, executive director for economic development and government relations at Lawrence Tech.
The goal is to develop vehicle armor that is superior in design, weight and durability than current armor designs and technology, according to information released by Rep. Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak, who requested the funding.
“Currently the military has armor on some of its vehicles — this was a huge issue years ago because that’s how a lot of people got killed, they were driving around in vehicles that did not have good armor, and (were struck by) roadside bombs,” said LTU spokesman Eric Pope. “The big problem with armor is that it’s really heavy, so that reduces the functionality of the vehicle and it can’t go as fast, and it uses a lot more fuel. Dr. Grace’s research is to come up with lighter-weight armor that is stronger, and also improves functionality of the vehicle, fuel economy, and is safer.”
CIMR was built in 2005 with funding from TARDEC and the Army Research Lab. It cost $3.2 million to construct the building, which has a 30-foot clearance height and a 25,000-pound crane to accommodate testing of full-scale structural components.
“They anticipated going forward that there would be more research here,” Pope said. “There have been a number of things along the way which they have funded. (Dr. Grace) has done a lot of research on reinforced polymer materials. This has to deal with bridges — replacing the steel in bridges with carbon fiber that does not corrode so the bridge lasts longer. But he is shifting into military research.”
CIMR received a $1 million federal grant in 2007 to construct an environmental testing chamber, as well as a fire chamber.
“We have just completed an environmental testing chamber that can simulate all sorts of conditions, including sandstorms, very humid weather, things like that, and that’s what this armor (would be tested with),” Pope said.
It can go from minus 30 degrees to 160 degrees Fahrenheit and simulate freezing rain up to 53 mph.
“The military is interested in a 30-year life-cycle of a vehicle as it gets deployed to different regions around the world using lightweight materials,” Brucki said. “They need to understand how those materials will withstand the different environmental conditions.”
The second chamber, at 25 feet long, 15 feet high and 10 feet wide, has the capability of applying impact force and creating a fire up to 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit.
“It’s enough to simulate the conditions of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center,” Brucki said of the fire chamber. “The military is interested in protecting both civilians and soldiers from different kinds of threats, including the munitions that are stored in vehicles. (The chambers) are big enough to fit a military humvee … and test it out under very serious conditions.”
The federal dollars and the research conducted by the scientists at Lawrence Tech combine to create a great deal of impact.
“It’s a good thing for the university, my department, the students and the economy in the state,” Grace said back in 2007. “The idea is to be more competitive, help our infrastructure, bring more business to the state and also help our troops.”
The measure was included in the annual Department of Defense funding bill.
“This award recognizes Lawrence Tech’s expertise in lightweight composite materials,” Levin said in a statement. “It’s an important investment in cutting-edge technology here in Michigan.”
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