A Biomimetic Composite for Space Vehicle/Habitat Design

There are plenty of literature dealing with studies that demonstrate how Noise and Vibration can interfere with space crew’s ability to perform critical mission functions especially at the time of launch, launch abort, and reentry. Space habitat like the ISS functions as spaceflight crew’s home; their workshop; office; and laboratory. All these activities result in a complex noise/vibration environment. This paper discusses the stiffness characteristics of a time dependent composite that has a soft middle porous layer, infused with a compatible fluid and is covered with thin sheets of skin layers on both the faces. Tests demonstrated that this design could lead to improvement in product performance, designed for acoustics /vibration isolation environment. The design has the flexibility to adapt its characteristics to suit various end application environments.