Directory
Daniel B. McCray
Interim Division Head, Nonstructural Materials
University of Dayton Research Institute: Nonstructural Materials
Profile
Dan McCray has over 25 years of experience conducting projects related to material and processing (M&P) issues with structural adhesive bonding, prebond surface preparation, polymer matrix composites, and aerospace specialty materials. Dan specializes in addressing M&P issues encountered with aerospace structures during production, in depot, or in field repair environments. He has extensive experience evaluating physical, mechanical, and electrical properties of materials, optimizing processing techniques, and transitioning M&P technologies to aircraft manufacturers and maintainers. Dan has authored over 100 technical papers/reports and regularly presents at technical conferences and meetings. Dan also chairs technical sessions related to the topics of adhesive bonding and composite materials at various conferences and serves as the Technical Program Co-Chair for the High Temperature Polymeric Laminate (HIGH TEMPLE) Workshop, an annual meeting devoted to discussing advances in high temperature polymers, composites, and their applications.
Dan currently leads UDRI’s Aerospace Materials Sustainment Group, composed of 20 researchers focused on developing M&P solutions for a variety of aerospace applications. The AMS Group is based in several laboratories at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with ~ $10M in annual revenues. As well as serving as the senior technical subject matter expert in his Group, Dan’s primary responsibility within the AMS Group is to serve as Program Manager for the Composites, Adhesives, Specialty Technologies, and Elastomers Research (COASTER) program with Air Force Research Laboratory. The COASTER program is a seven-year, $50M contract tasked with developing polymer-related M&P technologies and transitioning those technologies to end users within the U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense, aerospace industry, and beyond.
Research
- Structural Adhesive Bonding: Evaluation of structural adhesive materials, material properties, and development of prebond surface preparations
- Polymer Matrix Composites: Evaluation of composite materials, material properties, process development and optimization, and test methodologies
- Characterization of Aerospace Specialty Materials: Evaluation of nonstructural aerospace specialty materials found on the outer mold line of aerospace vehicles, including specialty coatings, boot materials, gap fillers, conductive materials, etc.
- Aircraft Repair Development: Development of repair methodologies encompassing a variety of aerospace M&P that can be performed in field or depot maintenance environments
Education
- M.S., Materials Engineering, University of Dayton
- B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, Wright State University
- A.S., Engineering Science, Sinclair Community College
Awards
- University of Dayton Research Institute Exceptional Performance Award, 2021, 2020, and 2015
- University of Dayton Wohlleben-Hochwalt Outstanding Professional Research Award for 2004-2005
Affiliations
- Technical Program Co-Chair for the High Temple Workshop
- Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering (SAMPE)
- Tau Beta Pi, The Engineering Honor Society
- Alpha Sigma Mu, The International Professional Honor Society for Materials Science and Engineering
Related Links
High Temple Workshop: https://hightemple.udri.udayton.edu
Publications
- D.B. McCray, C.R. Kondash, and P.K. Childers, “NONMETALLIC MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY FOR RAPID RESPONSE; Task Order 0001: Adhesives and Composites Efforts,” AFRL-RX-WP-TR-2018-0186, 19 July 2018.
- D.B. McCray, P.K. Childers, and J.J. Mazza, “One-Batch Flight-Readiness Qualification Testing of Astroquartz-III/AFR-PE-4 for Exhaust-Washed Structure,” ITAR Proceedings of the SAMPE 2013 Conference and Exhibition, Long Beach, CA, 6-9 May 2013.
- D.B. McCray and R.A. Rondeau, “NONMETALLIC MATERIALS SUPPORTABILITY, Task Order 0001: Nonmetallic Materials Supportability,” AFRL-RX-WP-TR-2013-0055, April 2013.
- D.B. McCray, J.A. Smith, K.M. Storage, M.D. Shouse, E. R. Ripberger, and J.J. Mazza, “Evaluation of Epoxy Paste Adhesives for Repair Bonding of Aluminum Alloys,” Proceedings of the SAMPE 2012 Conference and Exhibition, Baltimore, MD, 21-24 May 2012.
- T.M. Storage, K.M. Storage, S.M. Johnson, J.A. Smith, D.B. McCray and K.A. Tienda, “Alternate Cure Study of Out-Of-Autoclave (OOA) Adhesives,” Journal of Advanced Materials, 2011 Best Papers Collection, Society for the Advancement of Material and Processing Engineering, February 2012.
- D.B. McCray, P.K. Childers, K.M. Storage, T.M. Storage, J.J. Mazza and R.W. Thomson, “The Evaluation of Processing Variables for Fabricating Astroquartz-III/AFR-PE-4 Thin Structures,” ITAR Restricted Proceedings of SAMPE 2010 Conference and Exhibition, Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering, Seattle, WA, 17-20 May 2010.
- D.B. McCray, P.K. Childers, J.J. Mazza, K.J. LaCivita, R.W. Thomson and D.D. Johnson, “Scarf Repaired Polyimide Composite Structures Subjected to Tensile and Compressive Loading,” ITAR Restricted Proceedings of the 54th International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition (SAMPE 2009), Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering, Baltimore, MD, 18-21 May 2009.
- D.B. McCray, J.A. Smith and B.A. Bolan, “The Evaluation of Low-Temperature Alternate Cure Cycles for 121°C (250°F)-Curing Epoxy Structural Adhesives,” Proceedings of the 38th International SAMPE Technical Conference, Dallas, TX, 6-9 November 2006.
- D.B. McCray, “NONMETALS TEST AND EVALUATION, Delivery Order 0007: The Development of On-Aircraft Surface Preparations Utilizing Sol-Gel Coatings for Adhesive Bonding Aluminum Alloys,” AFRL-ML-WP-TR-2002-4131, May 2001.
- D.B. McCray, J.M. Huff, J.A. Smith, and J.J. Mazza, “An Ambient-Temperature Adhesive Bonded Repair Process for Aluminum Alloys,” Science of Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Series, Volume 46, Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering, pages 1135-1147, May 2001.
- D.B. McCray & J.J. Mazza, “Optimization of Sol-Gel Surface Preparations for Repair Bonding of Aluminum Alloys,” Science of Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Series, Volume 45, Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering, pages 45-56, May 2000.