CCM Newsletter - June 8, 2004

TOP STORY

CCM-Affiliated Faculty Receive Awards
One of CCM's 45 affiliated faculty members, Daniel Weile, received an Office of Naval Research Young Investigators' Award, recognizing his potential for creative research. With this award, Weile, an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, will investigate electromagnetic interference problems. In addition to the ONR award, Dan Weile also received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, which supports faculty, identified at potential leaders for the 21st Century, at a point early in their career. Professor Weile is working with CCM on several projects that have developed tools for modeling electromagnetic behavior of materials. These projects include a Composite Materials Technology <link> project on genetic algorithm design of phononic bandgap structures, an ONR Advanced Materials Intelligent Processing Center <link> project, and a Small Business Innovative Research program with Touchstone Research Laboratory on uses of designed carbon foam for naval structures.

Other CCM-affiliated faculty members have also received awards. Darrin Pochan, Assistant Professor of Materials Science & Engineering, is the recipient of an NSF CAREER award. He is investigating the use of biopolymers to construct advanced materials. Anette Karlsson, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, received an Office of Naval Research Young Investigators' Award. Karlsson's award will be used to investigate the lifetime of coated materials under cyclic loads. Kristi Kiick, Assistant Professor of Materials Science & Engineering won an NSF CAREER award last spring followed by a Beckman Young Investigator Award in October 2003. The latter provides research support to the most promising new faculty in the chemical and life sciences. Professor Kiick leads a Composite Materials Research <link> project on templated self-assembly for healing of carbon fibers.

CONSORTIUM NEWS

The current number of CCM Industrial Partners represents the highest level of industry participation in recent history, reflecting high value for benefits received. Thanks to all partners, represented by the logos shown below, who support CCM. We’d like to send a special thanks to our newest member, Surfx Technologies LLC , and also to Alliant Techsystems and Anholt Technologies for renewing their membership in April.
To find out more about this program and the various benefits offered to participants, please go to:
www.ccm.udel.edu/I-U/

OTHER NEWS

Honors Day Ceremony Recognizes Success of CCM Students
As part of the campus-wide Honors Day celebration, a ceremony recognizing the achievements of CCM students and staff was held on May 7, 2004. After brief introductory remarks by Professor John W. Gillespie, Jr., UD-CCM Director, Dean Eric Kaler of the College of Engineering provided keynote remarks. The focal point of the ceremony was the announcement and presentation of awards for achievements in original research and scholarship as well as professional and personal growth. Professor Suresh G. Advani, UD-CCM Associate Director, served as master of ceremonies for the presentation of awards to one member of the research staff and to seven undergraduate students and five graduate students, representing the five engineering departments.

Roy L. McCullough Scholars Award: The Scholars Award, renamed the Roy L. McCullough Scholars Award in 2002 in honor of the late Professor Roy McCullough, recognizes original contributions to the literature on composite materials. The tribute, consisting of a monetary award and a distinctive engraved plaque, is bestowed on the student author of a paper accepted for publication in a refereed journal. Selection of the recipient is determined by the quality of the manuscript submitted.
Recipient: Erik Thostenson, PhDMSE
Advisor: T.-W. Chou

Progress Award: The Progress Award recognize the contributions of students to the research goals of UD-CCM. The tribute, consisting of a monetary award, is bestowed on the student author of a CCM Research Report, thesis, or dissertation. Selection of the recipient of this award is based on the quality of the report, thesis, or dissertation.
Recipient: Fuping Zhou, PhDME
Advisor: S. G. Advani
Recipient: Erde Can, PhDChE
Advisor: R. P. Wool

Achievement Award: The Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievement demonstrated by a Center-affiliated student. The tribute, which consists of a monetary award, is bestowed on a student who has demonstrated superior achievement.
Recipient: Wim Thielemans, PhDChE
Advisor: R. P. Wool
Recipient: Angel Andres Leal Ayala, PhDMSE
Advisor: J. W. Gillespie, Jr.

Directors Award: The Director's Award recognizes outstanding personal growth demonstrated by a center - affiliated employee or student. The tribute, which consists of a monetary award, is bestowed on an employee or student who has demonstrated superior progress.
Recipient: Joseph Deitzel, Ph.D. – Limited Term Researcher

Outstanding Senior Award: The Outstanding Senior Award recognizes the contributions of students participating in the Undergraduate Research Program of CCM. The tribute, consisting of a monetary award, is bestowed on an outstanding senior for cumulative contributions (service and research) to CCM activities.
Recipient: Andrew Lipiecki, BSECE
Advisors: D. Prather and S. Yarlagadda
Recipient: James Moore, BSME
Advisor: M. Keefe
Recipient: Phuong-Anh Nguyen, BSChE
Advisor: Eric Furst

Undergraduate Research Award: The Undergraduate Research Award is bestowed on a student in their junior year whose proposal to perform research on composite materials under the guidance of a UD-CCM affiliated faculty member is selected. The student is required to enroll in UNIV401 and UNIV402 and write a senior thesis. Selection of the recipient for this award is based on the research objective and plan submitted by the student in a one-page abstract.
Recipient: Andrew Conklin, BSCEE
Advisor: H. W. Shenton, II
Recipient: Michael Fuqua, BSME
Advisor: J. Glancey
Recipient: Michael Golt, BSECE
Advisors: D. Prather and S. Yarlagadda
Recipient: Philip Matthews, BSChE
Advisors: N. Wagner and E. Wetzel

SAMPE Student Chapter Hosts Tour for Pre-Engineering Students
On April 22, 2004, SAMPE-UD and Center for Composite Materials hosted a tour of the Composites Manufacturing Science Laboratory for students from the Hodgson Vo-Tech High School Academy of Manufacturing and Pre-Engineering. The afternoon session on composite materials began with an introductory presentation by CCM Director, Jack Gillespie. From there, the students progress to hands-on demonstrations in manufacturing and testing of composite materials. Laboratory demonstrations by members of the SAMPE student chapter included VARTM (vacuum assisted resin transfer molding), thermal imaging, state-of-the-art laser cutting, AFM (atomic force microscopy) and mechanical testing. CCM and the SAMPE student chapter are becoming increasingly involved in outreach to the K-12 students in the surrounding area. Related story < http://www.engr.udel.edu/newsletter/hodgson-tour.htm> and pictures < http://udel.edu/stu-org/sampe/hodgson04.html>

Kerr Symposium on Engineering Mechanics
On April 29 and 30, 2004, the career of long-time CCM affiliated faculty member Professor Arnold D. Kerr was recognized upon his retirement from the UD Civil and Environmental Engineering department. The Kerr Symposium on Engineering Mechanics featured state-of-the-art lectures in several areas of engineering mechanics. The program included talks by 7 members of the National Academy of Engineering (two of whom are also members of the National Academy of Science).

FiberSIM
In late April, Vistagy and CCM announced the acquisition of FiberSIM software for use in the CCM Re-engineering Laboratory. FiberSIM® is a suite of software that turns major CAD systems into advanced tools for designing and manufacturing composite parts. The software enables engineers to create a complete digital product definition of a composite part within their 3D modeling environment. <break to continuation> FiberSIM tools automate design and analysis and generate manufacturing information including documentation, flat patterns, and data to drive laser projectors, automated cutters and fiber placement machines. FiberSIM uses XML technology to share composites data with people and applications throughout the enterprise, such as software for procurement, quality assurance, cost modeling, and manufacturing.

Among current projects that will benefit from FiberSIM, Center researchers are designing and evaluating composite replacement parts for the existing U.S. Army fleet of wheeled tactical support vehicles. A Department of Defense Center of Excellence funded by the Army supports this research. Design work focuses on exploring the potential for replacing sheet metal body parts of these vehicles with corrosion-resistant, lightweight, durable composites. FiberSIM software will support this research by giving engineers and technicians the means to document composite designs, simulate ply lay-up, assess producibility and manufacturing quality, and automate processes.

In announcing the use of Fiber SIM, Steve Luby, president and CEO of VISTAGY noted "The University of Delaware's Center for Composite Materials is an important resource because it serves as a valuable bridge between research and real-world application. The Center exposes composites engineers to best-in-class technologies so they can carry innovation into the marketplace." Complete press release < http://www.vistagy.com/news/content/pr81.asp>

JOB OPENINGS

As one of the services CCM provides to consortium members and government sponsors, job openings will be announced in our newsletter and posted on our website < http://www.ccm.udel.edu/opportunities/index.html>. Jobs posted this month include:

Gentex Corporation
• Composites Engineer (Carbondale, PA)

Cytec Engineered Materials
• Technical Service Engineer (Anaheim, CA)
• Applications Development/Research Engineer or Sr. Research Engineer (Anaheim, CA)
• Application Engineers – NAPR PRIM (Tempe, AZ or Anaheim, CA or Greenville,TX)
• Product Manager – NAPR PRIM (North America/Pacific Rim- Preform & Resin Infusion Materials) Location: (Tempe, AZ or Anaheim, CA)

PUBLICATIONS

Recent Publications in Journals
Chen, Z., J. R. Vinson, Analysis and optimization of a pressurized mid-plane asymmetric noncircular sandwich fuselage, Journal of Composite Materials, 38 (8), pp. 699-708, April 2004.

Lu, J., C. K. Hong and R. P. Wool, Bio-based nanocomposites from functionalized plant oils and layered silicate, Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, 42 (8), pp. 1441-1450, April 2004.

Dweib, M. A. , B. Hu, H. W. Shenton, and R. P. Wool, All-natural composite sandwich beams for structural applications, Journal of Composite Structures, 62 (2), pp. 47-57, 2004.

Thielemans, W., R. P. Wool, Butyrated kraft lignin as compatibilizing agent for natural fiber reinforced thermoset composites, Compos Part A – Appl S, 35 (3), pp. 327-338, 2004.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

CMR Program Review - June 10
CMT Program Review - June 28 - 29
Jack Vinson Symposium, 30th Anniversary of CCM, UD Clayton Hall - July 6
International Conference on Flow Processes in Composite Materials, FPCM7, UD Clayton Hall - July 7-9