SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Dynovas’ Composite Telescoping Shoring (CTS) is 2-sailor installable in 15 min or less per shoring, resistant to the marine environment, pre-tension stabilized for up to Sea State 8, >50% lower weight than timber, and height and length modular from 7.5 to 15 ft. Each benefit is included in a single self-contained assembly requiring no separate tools for install. The CTS solution is a direct drop-in for the obsolete timber shoring and does not impact the existing lashing solution, enabling ease of implementation into the fleet. The CTS design focuses on: Structural integrity (fire retardant, marine grade fiber glass composites are stronger per pound than timber shoring) Lightweight for easy handling and install (open section composite structure requires only 15 minutes to install at each location) Reliable for all positions and in all sea-states (modular telescoping construction and pretensioned, rigid physical locks with shock dampening) Rapid install, disassembly, and storing (simple, robust operation of one self-contained assembly with no external tools) Low maintenance and serviceable while underway (simple, marine grade systems with “common” parts to other shipboard systems) Low-cost production via automated additive manufacturing, CNC, and composite manufacturing processes The overarching technical objectives of the Composite Telescoping Shoring (CTS) development is a lightweight, two-man portable, adaptable, reusable, low-cost shoring system. The shoring system will initially be specifically designed for the LCU, but the modularity of the design and the commonality of the intended hardware will make scaling, reconfiguring, and redeploying the CTS to other applications easy. In Phase I, Dynovas will produce a proof-of-concept design with detailed analysis of the system structure and kinematics. Additionally, Dynovas will produce a subscale proof-of-concept CTS utilizing automated composite manufacturing techniques (e.g., filament winding). The subscale article will be assembled with representative mechanisms and demonstrated operationally and structurally. The structural demonstration will include compressive testing to validate strength and buckling resistance of the shoring concept. The Phase I base Technical Objectives were selected to validate the CTS via design, analysis, and testing. The validated CTS concept in the Phase I base program reduces risk and sets the foundation for accelerated development, qualification testing, and deployment in Phase II and beyond. The Phase I Option Technical Objectives were established to initiate the transition from the Phase I proof-of-concept to the Phase II prototype. As such, the option focuses heavily on low cost manufacturing development, component weight optimization, and long lead materials, environmental test planning, and structural test planning.
