The US army is testing an all-composite bodied Humvee that saves approximately 900 pounds or 409 kg when compared to a current steel and aluminum 10,000 to 12,000 pound (4.5t to 5.4t) HMMWV carrying the same heavy armor. The all-composite Humvee prototype was the result of an 18-month research and development program run by TPI Composites in conjunction with the U.S. Army TARDEC and AM General Created. According to TPI Composites, the weigh savings in the all-composite Humvee allows for the carriage of additional armor and other life-saving or important equipment. -Continued after the jump“We can put the strength where we need it,” said Steven Lockard, president and CEO of TPI Composites. “The chassis, for example, has extra carbon for added strength and stiffness, while other composite parts of the vehicle are lighter and more pliable. Every pound of weight we save, that weight is being added back to the vehicle in armor and mine-blast protection,” Lockard said. -Via: TPI Comporites
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