Composites Manufacturing Technology Center
Overview
The Composites Manufacturing Technology Center (CMTC) at The Pennsylvania State
University was formed in 1988 in response to the need for an interdisciplinary
approach to the use of basic and applied research to solve fundamental problems
in composite materials and structures manufacturing technology. The Center
serves as the focal point of inter-departmental research and education in
advanced structural composites at the University Park Campus in the College
of Engineering. Housed in a 15,000 sq. ft. laboratory are modern facilities for
fabrication, characterization, and performance evaluation of laboratory-scale
and full-scale composite structures. Approximately 10 to 15 faculty work with students
on composites-related research projects in the CMTC Laboratory. In addition,
graduate laboratory classes on polymer composites, experimental stress analysis,
and related characterization methods are taught in the laboratory.
The mission of the CMTC can be summarized as follows:
- Facilitate and promote research through collaboration and sharing of
equipment and resources internal and external to the university
- Educate and train scientists and engineers by providing exposure to
advanced research, instrumentation, and facilities in a
multidisciplinary setting
- Provide a forum for the exchange of technical information and expertise
- Improve existing technology and develop new technology to decrease
manufacturing cost and improve product quality
Fabrication capabilities of the CMTC include resin transfer molding, filament winding,
autoclaving, pultrusion, hot pressing, wet layup, carbon pyrolysis,
and braiding. Characterization capabilities include ultrasonics, acoustic
emission, X-radiography, infrared thermography, eddy current, thermal analysis,
and microscopy. Composite materials performance is evaluated with a
comprehensive array of testing equipment such as servo-hydraulic and screw-driven
load frames, a high-rate servo-hydraulic load frame with high speed laser flash
video recording, high temperature creep frames, an instrumented drop-weight impact
tester, environmentally-controlled wear testers, and a vacuum-ready flywheel spin
chamber. See the CMTC Facilities Page for additional information.
Specific research activity in the CMTC is summarized with the following list of recent
project titles and links to additional project information:
Manufacturing and Processing:
- Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes in Epoxy Resins
- Improved Infiltration of Fiber Preforms with Resin Transfer Molding
- Design, Fabrication, and Testing of Lightweight Composite Flywheels
- Filament Winding of Gl/Ep Compressed Gas Bottles
- Effect of Filament Winding Parameters on the Compressive Strength of C/Ep Cylinders
- Fiber Heating Study for Resin Transfer Molding
- Development of a Pultrusion Process for Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics
Performance and Durability:
- Fatigue of Unidirectionally Reinforced Polymer Composites in Vacuum
- Fatigue and Fracture of Cord-Reinforced Rubber Composites
- Impact Fatigue & Damage Tolerance of Ballistic Protection Composites
- Wear of Fiber-Reinforced Elastomer Composites
- Tribological Studies of Advanced Metal Alloys and Coatings
- Fatigue of Filament Wound Composites for Flywheels
- Evaluation of the C-ring Test Method for Radial Strength of Flywheel Rims
-
Measurement of Damping Behavior of Elastomeric Matrix Composites
- Effect of Thermal Aging on Interlaminar Fracture and Impact Response of C/Ep Laminates
Civil Infrastructure:
Dynamic Behavior:
- Design and Fabrication of Dielectric Composite Materials
- Damping of Flexible Composite Shafts for Helicopter Applications
- Health Monitoring of Advanced Flywheel Batteries
Analysis:
Ceramic Matrix Composites:
- Measurement and Analysis of Creep Deformation of SiC/RBSN Composites
Corrosion:
- Corrosion Resistant Nonequilibrium Thermal Spray Coating
- Corrosion Resistant Powder Metal Alloys
- Graded Nonequilibrium Aluminum Alloy
Education is a central function in the CMTC. There are presently about 30 graduate students and another 10 undergraduate
students working on composites-related theses leading to the Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. degrees in several departments. A list of affiliated faculty and their
interests in the area of composite materials and structures
is given in the CMTC Faculty Page.
Special educational programs are offered
in the summer for high school students as well as educators with an interest in composite materials.
Extensive laboratory facilities are available for hands-on laboratory sessions.
The current list of composites courses offered at the University
Park campus by the departments of Aerospace Engineering,
Engineering Science & Mechanics, and
Materials Science and Engineering is given below.
Regular semester course offerings that are appropriate for engineering students of the senior bachelor's level or graduate level:
- Engineering Composite Materials (Materials, stress analysis, failure analysis, design, 3 credit)
- Composites Processing (Manufacturing methods, with laboratory demos, 3 cr.)
- Composites Processing Lab (Hands-on manufacturing, 1 cr.)
- Advanced Aerospace Structures (Aerospace structure analysis and design, 3 cr.)
- Micromechanics of Composites (Predictions of macro props using micro props, 3 cr.)
- Metal Matrix Composites (Materials, manufacturing, mechanics, design, 3 cr.)
- Advanced Composite Structures (Advanced aerospace structure analysis and design, 3 cr.)
- Ceramic Composites (Materials, manufacturing, mechanics, design, 3 cr.)
- Polymers and Composites (Materials, characterization, properties, 3 cr.)
Related courses in manufacturing, materials, mechanics, and sensors are offered by other Departments and Programs in the colleges of Engineering
and Earth & Mineral Sciences.
For related composites web pages, please visit our
Hot Links Page.
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visitors to this site since 8/Sep/96.
Additional information:
Prof. Charles E. Bakis
212 Earth & Engineering Science Building
University Park, PA 16802
phone: (814) 865-3178
fax: (814) 863-7967
email: cbakis@psu.edu
Last substantial update on 20/Sep/0