DEVELOPMENT OF SCRATCH- AND SPALL-RESISTANT WINDSHIELDS

Studies were performed to evaluate possible ways of improving the primary weaknesses in existing Army helicopter windshields, namely, scratching and spalling. Three experimental windshield material configurations offering a potential solution were fabricated for test and evaluation. The spall problem was approached by using plycarbonate as a backup material and was incorporated into each design. The scratch problem was approached by employing either (1) a hard surface coating, (2) an acrylic cladding, or (3) a thin glass cladding to the polycarbonate backup material. Commercially available materials and abrasion-resistant coatings were evaluated utilizing a windshield wiper apparatus, while spall performance was studied by ballistic testing and high-speed photography of each of three test configurations. /NTIS/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at Proceedings of Conference on Transporent Aircraft Enclosures, Las Vegas, Nev., 5-8 Feb. 1973. See also report dated June 73, AD-769 344.
• Corporate Authors:

  Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center

  Watertown, MA  United States  02172
• Authors:
  • Plumer, J R
• Publication Date: 1974-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 22 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acrylic resins; Cabs (Vehicle compartments); Cladding; Cutting; Helicopters; High speed photography; Occupant protection devices; Safety; Spalling; Texture; Thermoplastic materials; Windshield washers; Windshields
• Uncontrolled Terms: Impact protection; Scratches
• Old TRIS Terms: Ballistic cutting; Windows
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00082922
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: AMMRC-TR-74-19 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 26 1976 12:00AM