The Institute for Ultra-Strong Composites by Computational Design (US-COMP) will serve as a focal point for partnerships between NASA, other federal agencies, industry, and academia to: (1) enable computationally-driven development of CNT-based ultra-high strength lightweight structural materials and (2) expand the resource of highly skilled scientists, engineers and technologists in this emerging field to enhance the U.S. leadership in critical lightweight structural materials. The research objectives of US-COMP are to: Establish a new computationally-driven material design paradigm for rapid material development and deployment Develop a novel UHSL structural material for use in deep space exploration. The panel-level tests and demonstration of the novel materials will be carried out to move the developed technology to TRL-4 or higher Develop modeling, processing, and testing tools and methods for CNT assemblage-based UHSL materials Train a pool of highly skilled scientists and engineers to contribute to the materials development workforce The team will develop the following technologies and have a major impact on the aerospace community: Lightweight structural materials based on 1 dimensional and 1.5 dimensional CNT building blocks with the exceptional strength, modulus, and fracture toughness properties necessary for manned Mars missions and other space explorations A new computationally-driven materials design paradigm to develop the UHSL material of interest and for future rapid materials design and development Fundamental understanding of load transfer and multiscale failure mechanisms of CNT assemblage composite materials to approach their theoretical performance A full set of engineering performance data from for the developed UHSL material A new suite of multi-scale mechanical characterization tools and protocols for CNT materials
More »Provide NASA and aerospace community with: Ultra high strength, lightweight material systems. Innovative computationally accelerated materials development paradigm for a wide range of optimal materials design. New university/industry/federal laboratory partnerships that can lead to future technological advances. Convenient one-stop shop for cutting edge materials development expertise and numerical tools developed by the team. Pool of trained diverse emerging researchers with talents that can contribute to the materials development workforce. Global competitive edge in the development of novel materials for future aerospace applications.
More »Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Michigan Technological University (MTU) | Lead Organization | Academia | Houghton, Michigan |
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) | Supporting Organization | Other US Government | Notre Dame, Indiana |
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) | Supporting Organization |
Academia
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)
|
Tallahassee, Florida |
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus (GA Tech) | Supporting Organization | Academia | Atlanta, Georgia |
Johns Hopkins University | Supporting Organization | Academia | Baltimore, Maryland |
Langley Research Center (LaRC) | Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Hampton, Virginia |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Supporting Organization | Academia | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
Solvay | Supporting Organization | Industry | Brussels, Outside the United States, Belgium |
University of Florida | Supporting Organization | Academia | Gainesville, Florida |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Supporting Organization |
Academia
Asian American Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPISI)
|
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
University of Utah | Supporting Organization | Academia | Salt Lake City, Utah |
Virginia Commonwealth University | Supporting Organization |
Academia
Asian American Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPISI)
|
Richmond, Virginia |