Airless Tire Promises Grace Under Pressure for Soldiers [Slide Show]
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FULL THROTTLE: Resilient is hoping that, in addition to withstanding attacks, its NPT's honeycomb design will also dissipate the heat buildup that tires must endure when they are driven in combat. Courtesy of Resilient Technologies, LLC
PUT TO THE TEST: The Resilient design relies on a precise pattern of six-sided cells that are arranged like a honeycomb. Courtesy of Resilient Technologies, LLC
FULLY LOADED: The tension of the plastic provides strength, allowing them to work just like air-filled tires. Courtesy of Resilient Technologies, LLC
BEND, BUT DON'T BREAK: Resilient tests the flexibility of potential polymers for the honeycomb lattices in its NPT. The tire met the Army's requirement that it be able to run for at least 15,000 miles (24,140 kilometers) before needing to be replaced. Courtesy of Resilient Technologies, LLC
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CAN IT HANDLE THE PRESSURE? Resilient performs a static load test on one of its NPT prototypes. The tire met the Army's requirement that it be able to handle a maximum load of 3,850 pounds (1,746 kilograms). Courtesy of Resilient Technologies, LLC
AIRLESS: Resilient engineers worked for nearly two years with the Army to develop a tire design they felt would be an improvement in combat conditions. Courtesy of Resilient Technologies, LLC
NATIONAL GUARD: In April, Resilient installed a set of 37-inch (94-centimeter) NPTs on a Wausau-based National Guard Humvee, which is currently being tested. Although Resilient won't say exactly what polymers and other materials it uses to make its NPTs, the company designed them with a bolt pattern compatible and interchangeable with current Humvee wheel designs. Courtesy of Resilient Technologies, LLC
BUILDING A BETTER TIRE: Resilient Technologies's "non-pneumatic tire" (NPT) is designed to continue supporting the Humvee--get troops out of harm's way--even if a roadside landmine or small arms attack destroys up to 30 percent of the tire's honeycomb structure. Courtesy of Resilient Technologies, LLC
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