Predicting behavior

By Pamela Gregg, Communication Administrator, 937-229-3268

The University of Dayton Research Institute has been awarded a five-year Air Force contract to perform research in advanced behavior and life prediction of aerospace materials for the Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The award ceiling for the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract is $46 million.

Under this contract, researchers in UDRI's Structural Materials division will work to support the Air Force in the development and transition of aerospace structural material discovery, processing, performance assessment, and prediction tools in effort to enable shortening of the material, component, and system design cycle; rapid qualification and insertion of improved materials and efficient components; rapid certification of aerospace structures; increases in efficiency and readiness of turbine engine components; structural protection against high-energy events; and decreases in system sustainment costs. 

The contract includes an initial two task orders with a combined ceiling of $28 million. UDRI researchers will perform physical experiments as well as computer modeling and simulation to better understand how materials perform under the types of conditions they will experience in service environments, which are affected by variables such as stress and temperature. Researchers will also work to develop more efficient tools to predict expected life of aerospace materials under service conditions.

Research efforts will include evaluating the thermal and mechanical performance of metallic and high-temperature composites designed for use in aircraft and aerospace propulsion systems and structures.

Oct. 16, 2019