CENTER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
RESEARCH TOPICS:
Ceramic microstructures
- Characterization
- Processing for improved performance
- Interface development from processing
Mechanical Behavior in both ambient and elevated temperature environments
- Fracture
- Strength
- Fatigue
- Creep
Ceramic coatings for wear-resistant applications
- Thin/Thick film mechanical properties
- Coating adhesion
- Tribology of ceramic coatings
Modeling for bulk and coated material systems
- Micromechanical models for simulation and prediction of mechanical behavior.
Reliability models
Design
- Coupon testing relevance to structures
- Design philosophy for brittle materials
- Scaling of strength and fracture behavior to engineering components
- Machining effects on surface condition and mechanical behavior
- Tribology
SELECTED CURRENT PROJECTS:
Total Funding: Over $3 Million.
- Mechanical Properties of Ceramic Coatings: Valvetechnologies, Inc.
- Development of an In Situ Whisker-Reinforced Ceramic Composite for Advanced Technology Applications:
Texas Coordinating Board - ATP
- Fracture Process Zone Studies of High Temperature Ceramics under Cyclic Loading
Air Force Office of Sponsored Research
- Direct Evaluation of Crack Face Bridging Mechanisms in Non-Transforming Ceramics:
Dept. of Energy.
- Reliability of Alumina Components:
Sandia National Labs
- Modeling and Simulation of Plasma Processing Reactors:
Nat. Sci. Foundation and Sandia Nat. Labs
- Hot Target Reactive Sputtering of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Fuel Cell Membranes:
National Science Foundation: Materials Research Science and Engineering Center