These efforts are focused on development of advanced airframes, structures, and components for high-speed, long duration flight. This includes manufacturing techniques for high-temperature resins, carbon fibers, and advanced ceramics for integrated airframe & thermal protection. Centauri capabilities for advanced materials development include the streamlined fabrication, testing, and analysis of in-house prototype designs.
Our Approach
Composite fabrication methods such as filament winding, compression molding, resin infusion, and prepreg hand layup are employed in Centauri in-house facilities to create rocket motor casing, nozzles, material test coupons, and other composite structures using the following equipment:
• 4-axis McClean Anderson Cyclone winder
• Wisconsin curing oven with rotisserie
• 60 Ton heated platen press
• Prototype 3D printer
• Hydroburst testing
• Tensile testing
• Compression testing
• Flexural testing
• Shear testing
• Lap shear testing
• Density measurement
• Fiber/void volume determination
Advanced materials expertise and diversity is present throughout Centauri from seasoned filament winding and nozzle fabrication technicians to senior rocket motor designers, and junior engineers investigating new technology areas in advanced materials. The collaborative nature of the Centauri team and available resources provide a unique environment that encourages curiosity, experimentation, and creativity in advanced materials prototyping. Examples of research topics are soft tooling technologies to reduce cost and improve efficiency of filament winding, processing of high temperature resin for filament winding, and process development of novel high temperature nozzle and airframe materials.
Related Capabilities
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Centauri has significant experience, capabilities, and tools to develop CFD solutions to solve our customers' problems.
Missile Warning & Defense
Centauri provides the capability to engage and destroy short to missile threats to protect the U.S. Homeland
Modeling Simulation and Analysis
Centauri focuses on enabling our customers to make data-driven decisions to discover best-value solutions
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to solve engineering problems from low-speed flows involving the coldest fluids on earth, to hypersonic aerodynamic problems where the temperatures involved far exceed the temperature on the surface of the sun. Centauri's team of CFD experts work closely with our customers to understand their needs from a system perspective in order to provide the best CFD solutions possible at the speed of relevance.
Learn MoreMissile Warning & Defense
Centauri develops solutions to address the emerging threat of intercontinental hypersonic and ballistic missiles, including nuclear threats in contested environments. We support 24x7 capabilities and operations to sustain warfighter operations, minimizing disruption of ongoing development and activities to face rapidly advancing threats. We support total system performance for Research and Development Systems Engineering and Integration as a leading technology developer. As threats evolve, we are ready to deliver advanced missile defense solutions for you.
Learn MoreModeling Simulation and Analysis
Modeling Simulation and Analysis (MS&A) is a group of engineering processes that involves the study of system components, the development of mathematical and physics-based algorithms that can be coded into numerical software models and/or simulators. Modeling and simulation is used to explore solution trade space and evaluate alternatives to provide detailed insights to analytical questions.
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