The Advanced Materials Characterization Group develops technology to define the growth of damage that exists in structural materials. Such damage causes structures to fail. The group has also been instrumental in the evolution of thermal mechanical fatigue test systems that are used to simultaneously control thermal and mechanical loadings on a subcomponent or material test specimen. These loadings simulate service environments typical to those experienced by the material. The group is also active in developing life prediction models of high-temperature aerospace materials.

With a current project, sponsored by the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), the Advanced Materials Characterization group is researching ways to test newly evolving, and typically high temperature, aerospace materials, as well as to augment databases on aerospace materials in current use. New technology will be used to evaluate the materials’ application to gas turbine engines and supersonic flight structures and to develop new life prediction methodology. The effort is a combined experimental and analytical project that has recently focused on titanium aluminides and ceramic matrix composites and is currently involved in the development of physically-based models for improved life prediction for components and materials in current use in gas turbine engines.