Center for Composite Materials
University of Delaware
CCM educates engineers, conducts basic research, and
provides prompt technology transfer for the composites community. More
than 35 affiliated faculty members, 25 postdoctoral fellows, 75 students,
50 visiting scholars, and 25 professional research staff are currently
affiliated with the Center. The students earn their degrees in engineering,
physics, chemistry, or business.
| Founded in 1974 within the College of Engineering,
the Center for Composite Materials (CCM) is an internationally recognized,
interdisciplinary center of excellence for composites education and
research at the University of Delaware. CCM is dedicated to advancing
composites technology through lower costs, higher quality, and reduced
risk. |
Background
CCM began working with materials suppliers and end users in the aerospace,
automotive, civil engineering, and durable goods industries in the mid-1970s.
Since then, the Center has collaborated with well over 150 international
companies through consortium membership
or contracts and grants.
Since 1986, UD-CCM's programs and initiatives have been designated "Centers
of Excellence" six times by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the
National Science Foundation (NSF). Since 1996, the Composite
Materials Research Program funded by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory
(ARL) has focused on basic research in microstructural design of multifunctional
materials. In 2001, the Composite
Materials Technology Program, also funded by ARL, extends the area
of multifunctional materials into applied research and the development
of generic tools required for the application of composite materials.
Other major programs at the Center include the Advanced
Materials Intelligent Processing Center funded by the Office of Naval
Research.
Research
Center researchers take a "holistic" approach to composites
research, with the work ranging from materials and synthesis, mechanics
and design, and processing science to sensing and control and performance
evaluation.
During its history, which spans close to a quarter of a century, CCM
has developed core competencies in a number of composites science and
engineering areas, including liquid molding (resin transfer molding, vacuum-assisted
resin infusion), induction processing, design and re-engineering, composites
from renewable sources, interphase science, sensing and control, textile
preforming,and cost modeling.
The Center's state-of-the-art composites manufacturing facilities are
used by faculty, research staff, graduate and undergraduate students,
and visiting scholars from throughout the world.
CCM's integrated approach to manufacturing science builds on the convergence
of fundamental and applied research, resulting in the intelligent manufacturing
of composites.
Technology Transfer
Center researchers view industry and government as partners rather than
patrons. Technology transfer thus becomes a logical outgrowth of the research
rather than a separate activity. CCM's current research programs are being
carried out with the support of, and in collaboration with, industry,
the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, federal
agencies (ARO, ONR, DARPA, NSF, NIST, NAS, and others), and the State
of Delaware.
Education
Students and faculty in the Center are affiliated with the University
of Delaware departments of Chemical,
Civil & Environmental, Electrical
& Computer, Materials Science
& Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,
Physics & Astronomy, and
Chemistry & Biochemistry;
and the College of Business & Economics.
CCM students at all levels are active participants on interdisciplinary
research teams; in addition to a solid grounding in the fundamentals,
composites students at UD gain practical insight into the solution of
real-world engineering problems. They also have the opportunity to interact
with visiting students, faculty, and researchers from industry, government
agencies, and other universities in the U.S. and abroad.
CCM has a unique undergraduate research program in collaboration with
the University Honors
Program that promotes cross-disciplinary education. Some 25-30 students
are involved each year as CCM undergraduate
research assistants; more than 500 students have participated in the
program since its inception in 1980.
Related continuing education opportunities include Engineering
Outreach and CCM workshops, symposia, and seminar series.
Prof. John W. Gillespie Jr.
phone: 302-831-8702
fax: 302-831-8525
e-mail: gillespie@ccm.udel.edu
Prof. Suresh G. Advani
phone: 302-831-8795
fax: 302-831-8525
e-mail: advani@me.udel.edu
Center for Composite Materials
201 Composites Mfg. Science Lab
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716-3144
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