Research
Research Experience:
Primary activities have focused on fabrication and process development, mechanical property characterization, and structural testing & analysis of advanced polymeric composites and high performance & ultra-lightweight polymers. Specifically, areas of expertise include formulating new techniques and associated experimentally-based methodologies for autoclave processing, injection/resin transfer molding (RTM), vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), compression molding, thermoforming and extrusion of polymer and composite materials; the development of laboratory testing techniques and instrumentation for investigating and determining structural and material behavior in composites; and the development of analytical and numerical methods for modeling the environmental response, long-term durability, related phenomenological events, and damage tolerance of polymer matrix composites. Current topics include rheology, thermochemical analysis, experimental mechanics, structural analysis and design, fatigue life assessment, micromechanics and long term durability.
Past and current funded projects overview
- Author of over 60 publications in composite materials and mechanics disciplines in
peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings including Journal of Composite Materials,
American Society for Composites, Experimental Mechanics, Journal of Composites Technology
and Research, AIAA Journal, Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, ASTM STPs,
and Journal of Composites Part-B: Engineering
- Serves on the editorial boards of the “AIAA Journal”, “Experimental Mechanics” and
“Journal of Composites Science and Technology”
- Lockheed-Martin F22 Engineering Week Case Study Organizer
- Research Activities funded by Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, Sonoco, Gordon Composites-Polystrand, Southwest Research Institute, Thiokol, Honeywell, Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Air Force (AFOSR), Office of Naval Research, NASA, JPL, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
I. DoD Projects
Army Research Laboratory $1,633,400 Date: 08/02/01-12/30/07
Structural Design of High Speed MEMS Magnetic Generator (Grant# DAAD19-01-2-0010)
Design, structural analysis, numerical modeling (ABAQUS, ANSYS) and fabrication of advanced MEMS structures for micro-turboengines and micro-generators for compact soldier power. Deliverables included generator design as well as structural, material and thermochemical properties.
Army ( Rotorcraft Center ) $196,649 Date: 08/15/06-08/14/11
Effects of Defects on Structural Reliability of Rotorcraft Composite Dynamic Components (Grant # W911w6-06-2-0004)
Mechanical (fatigue and static) characterization and structural reliability analysis of rotorcraft composite fatigue critical structures to validate fatigue failure models. Fabrication of test structures for the NDE assessment of the effects of manufacturing defects on the fatigue life.
Office of Naval Research $180,000 Date: 09/01/01-07/31/04
Durability of Sandwich Composites in Various Aqueous Environments (N00014-01-1033)
Fracture toughness modeling (ABAQUS, ANSYS) and experimental characterization of advanced 3-D structures for high performance naval topside structures. Deliverables included structural, material and thermochemical properties as well as accelerated and durability testing and modeling.
Office of Naval Research $1,000,000 Date: 09/01/01-12/31/04
Novel Galvanic Corrosion Inhibitors: Synthesis, Characterization, Fabrication
& Testing (Grant# N00014-01-1042)
Fabrication and characterization of corrosion resistant polymers for naval structures. Deliverables included synthesis, mechanical properties and thermochemical properties.
Office of Naval Research $230,000 Date: 07/01/97-09/30/00
Impact Damage and Residual Strength of Structural Composites (Grant# N00014-97-1-0832)
Impact characterization and modeling (ABAQUS, ANSYS) of advanced 3-D structures for high performance naval topside structures. Deliverables included structural and mechanical properties, thermochemical properties, as well as accelerated and durability testing and modeling.
Army Research Laboratory $45,000 Date: 08/10/00-08/09/01
Multi-Scale Modeling of Thick Composite Armor Plate (Grant# FK-66300/7-116)
Computational Structural Mechanics (CSM) Modeling of thick composite armor at various length scales. Deliverables included structural and material properties, residual life prediction, mechanical properties, as well as structural finite element modeling.
Air Force $135,000 Date: 11/12/99-05/12/01
Multi-Scale Modeling of Advanced Polymer Matrix Composites (Grant# NRC-CR-96-0018)
Computational Structural Mechanics (CSM) Modeling of high performance aerospace composites at various length scales. Deliverables included structural and material properties, residual property predictions and mechanical properties, as well as structural finite element modeling.
II. NASA Projects
NASA $18M Date: 09/01/96-09/01/07
High Performance Polymers and Composites (HiPPAC) Center (Grant# NCC3-1044)
Associate Director of NASA funded Center. Focus on Aero projects including fabrication, testing and characterization of advanced aerogels, polyimide foams, hybrid composite laminates, blended wing body aircraft, accelerated testing, durability, and supersonic speed structures. Deliverables included mechanical and structural properties, thermochemical properties, durability, environmental effects.
NASA $131,000 Date: 08/27/01-12/25/01
Evaluation of Materials for High Temperature Resin Transfer Molding (Grant# NAS3-01201)
Fabrication and characterization of materials for high temperature aerospace structures. Deliverables included processing parameters, mechanical properties as well as thermochemical and rheological properties.
NASA $300,000 Date: 05/25/01-05/24/04
Commercial Process Development for Polyimide Foams (Grant# NAG-1-01091)
Fabrication and characterization of high and low density polyimide foams for high temperature aerospace structures. Deliverables included processing parameters, mechanical properties and thermochemical properties.
NASA $64,555 Date: 05/01/97-09/31/99
Computational Materials Research - Finite Element Modeling (Grant# NAG-1-1919)
Characterization and finite element modeling (ABAQUS, ANSYS) of advanced structures for high temperature aerospace structures. Deliverables included material properties, mechanical properties and thermochemical properties, as well as accelerated and durability testing and modeling.
NASA $199,054 Date: 07/01/95-05/31/98
Constitutive Modeling and Testing of Polymer Matrix Composites Incorporating Physical Aging at Elevated Temperatures (Grant# NAG-1-1727)
Finite element modeling (ABAQUS, ANSYS) and characterization of advanced structures for high temperature aerospace structures. Deliverables included material properties for physical and chemical aging, mechanical properties and thermochemical properties, as well as accelerated and durability testing and modeling.
NASA $498,315 Date: 02/01/95-01/31/97
Low Density, Low Conductivity PAN Ablative Optimization and Nozzle Fabrication
(Grant# NAG-8-1136)
Processing and characterization of ablative nozzle materials for rocket and re-entry vehicles. Deliverables included processing parameters, material properties, mechanical properties and thermochemical properties.
NASA $199,699 Date: 10/01/95-10/31/98
Modeling and Testing of Hybrid Titanium Composite Laminates at Normal and Elevated Temperatures (Grant# NAS3-27785)
Finite element modeling (ABAQUS, ANSYS) and characterization of advanced hybrid structures for high temperature aerospace structures. Deliverables included material properties for physical and chemical aging, mechanical properties and thermochemical properties, as well as accelerated and durability testing and modeling.
III. Other Government Projects
USDA/Forest Products Laboratory $10,000 Date: 05/07/99-09/30/02
Elevated Temperature and Durability Studies on the Effects of Humidity and Temperature on Aspen/Polypropylene Composites (Grant# 02-JV-11111125-65)
Characterization of wood based composites for commercial applications. Deliverables included structural and mechanical properties, fracture, and thermochemical properties, as well as accelerated and durability testing and modeling.
IV. Industry Projects
Lockheed Martin $44,998 Date: 06/17/02-12/15/02
Testing to Substantiate a Single Piece Hogout Emergency Exit Door ( Grant# RX77009)
Pressure characterization of aerospace structures for the C-130 J transport aircraft. Deliverables included structural and mechanical properties, in addition to FAA certification testing.
Boeing $15,000 Date: 7/15/98-5/14/99
Fracture Toughness Testing of Aged Bonded Joints Under Fatigue for Titanium Graphite Hybrid Laminates (Grant# 0375538)
Fracture toughness modeling (ABAQUS, ANSYS) and characterization of hybrid composite structures for high temperature aerospace structures. Deliverables included structural and mechanical properties, thermochemical properties, as well as accelerated and durability testing and modeling.
Southwest Research Inst $89,985 Date: 06/01/97-12/31/97
Evaluation of Paint/Coating Stripping Utilizing a Laser-Guided Gas-Embedded Pinchlamp
(Grant# 10-1014)
Characterization of advanced laser equipment for the coating and stripping of metals. Deliverables included thermochemical properties.
JPL $98,000 Date: 10/01/94-1/31/96
Characterization and Mechanical Testing of a Polarization-Maintaining Optical Fiber
(Grant# 959381)
Characterization of advanced optical fibers for high performance space applications. Deliverables included structural and mechanical properties, and thermochemical properties.
