Technology Development

UD-CCM’s research philosophy encourages faculty, post-docs, professionals, and students from different science and engineering disciplines to work in a collaborative environment to meet the research needs of our sponsors. Six research thrust areas describe Center interdisciplinary research in composites: Materials & Synthesis, Mechanics & Design, Processing Science, Sensing & Control, Performance, and Multifunctional Materials.  Our researchers conduct world-class research in each of these areas but also work in research teams at the interface between these disciplines to design and optimize new materials and processes that deliver performance and affordability. Our unique manufacturing science laboratory provides facilities for synthesis of new materials, chemical and mechanical characterization from the nano-scale to large-scale structures, computation, design, and re-engineering and manufacturing workcells on existing and next generation processes that are ready for transition to our sponsors. To that end, UD-CCM research is often organized into the following theme areas:

Materials and Synthesis

Identifying, creating, and tailoring of existing and next generation materials through the control of microstructure and molecular architecture.

Mechanics and Design

Processing-Microstructure-Property relationships to enable design of internal architecture to predict and optimize properties; Multi-scale modeling, Numerical methods, CAD/CAM, Re-engineering, and new software design tools.

Processing Science

Developing models and simulations in a “virtual manufacturing” environment for process optimization and tool design that leads to improved quality and affordability; Evaluating influence of processing parameters on state of material, Innovate new composite manufacturing processes; Prototyping.

Sensing and Control

Developing on-line sensors and devices for monitoring composites from manufacturing to end-of-life; Develop and validate process control schemes using simulations and manufacturing workcells.

Performance

State-of-the-art testing and evaluation of a wide range of material, component, and full-scale article properties – mechanical, thermal, electrical, cost, etc. Developing new test procedures and equipment.

Multifunctional Materials

Designing materials to accomplish multiple performance objectives in a single system. Encompassing traditional systems, such as fire-hardened structural composite armor, to newer systems that include blast, sensors and actuators, power harvesting, communications, and electro-optical capabilities.