Multiscale In-situ/Ex-situ Microstructural Characterization to Accelerate the Development of High-Performance Materials for Defense Applications
Abstract
The development of next generation, high-performance structural materials for the Departmentof Defense (DoD) will require an in-depth fundamental understanding of alloying-processing microstructure-property-performance interrelationships. Understanding and implementing thesecritical interrelationships requires the application of state-of-the-art multiscale in-situ/ex-situcharacterization and Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) by highly trainedSTEM-educated engineers and scientists to accelerate materials development for mission-criticalDoD applications. Mines seeks to enhance our multiscale, in-situ/ex-situ microstructuralcharacterization capabilities to accelerate the development of high-performance materials fordefense applications. Here we propose to enhance the existing characterization facilities at theColorado School of Mines (Mines) to further enable multiscale, in-situ electron microscopy anddiffraction during heating/cooling/straining, in addition to nanoscale phase, crystallographicorientation, and strain mapping. These new capabilities, in combination with Mines track recordof excellence in physical and mechanical metallurgy, will accelerate and improve existing,proposed, and future research and research-related education funded by the DoD on theprediction, control, and development of advanced and new materials and processes, includingconventional and emerging processes like additive manufacturing, with designed microstructuresand properties for performance in extreme environments.Mines has a strong legacy in use-inspired metallurgical and materials engineering, with strengthsin the development of industrially relevant metallic alloys and ceramics for structuralengineering applications. Mines Principal Investigators are currently supporting the DoDsmission by performing fundamental and applied research on high-temperature, non-ferrousstructural alloys for propulsion and hypersonics, multi-principal element alloys and lightweighttitanium alloys with exceptional corrosion resistance and steels with enhanced tougheningmechanisms for desirable strength/ductility combinations for blast/crash/dynamic loadingscenarios and warfighter survivability, low-density aluminum and titanium alloys for airframeand aerospace platforms and lightweight vehicles, steels for armor and munitions, advancedpolymer systems and transparent oxide ceramics, and materials processing by emergingtechnologies like additive manufacturing. The proposed capabilities will enhance the speed,quality, and breadth of materials research and research-related education of over 20 graduatestudents and postdocs currently underway or on the horizon for DoD applications, in alignmentwith aims of the Office of Naval Researchs propulsion, structural materials, and materials andprocesses for AM technology areas, Air Force Office of Scientific Researchs Engineering andComplex Systems Scientific Division, multiscale structural mechanics and prognosis and low densitymaterials programs, and the Army Research Offices synthesis and processing ofmaterials, mechanical behavior of materials (including force-activated materials), science andengineering of crystal imperfections, and innovation in materials research areas.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112321
Entities
People
- Amy Clarke
Organizations
- Colorado School of Mines
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy