A composite is a combination of different materials. But together, the material inputs have new properties they wouldn't have if they were on their own. Jet engine maker GE Aviation's secret recipes for making different types of composites serve as an edge over other manufacturers.
Jenny Pierce, senior research materials engineer for the Dayton university’s research arm, provided these written responses below to questions about the institute’s relationship with the Evendale-based aerospace company.
Q: What work does UDRI do for GE in composite matrix materials?
A: "UDRI provides GE with valuable research capabilities to evaluate ceramic matrix composite materials under test conditions that may not be available anywhere else, and to advance technologies used in these tests to higher temperatures and extreme conditions like those experienced inside a jet engine."
“Researchers across several divisions of UDRI are advancing the understanding of how these high-temperature capable material systems behave in real world environments. For the past six or more years, UDRI has been studying the behavior of GE CMC materials from their constituent fiber level all the way to sub-element component structures, and the collaboration efforts have been steadily growing.”
“Currently, GE is engineering their ceramic matrix composite materials to be able to withstand hotter and hotter temperatures in the turbine engine environment. With the material’s advancements come unique challenges in measuring material properties and characterizing behavior with existing test technologies and methods. Everything gets harder to do and to measure with precision when the test environment is glowing hot.”
“Notably, UDRI is developing in-house capabilities, including methods and apparatus, for testing these materials under relevant thermal and loading conditions well above 2,400 (degrees Fahrenheit). This work is being accomplished within our new Ceramic Composite Testing and Implementation center at our Shroyer Park location on campus.”
Q: How are students and staff involved?
A: "Students are always an integral part of our research projects at UDRI. There is on the order of 20 (research institute) staff and up to a dozen students currently working on these GE-sponsored projects. Employing and including graduate and undergraduate students on projects involving emerging technology and advanced materials such as CMCs is an important part of UDRI's educational outreach and workforce development alongside the University of Dayton."
“UD also currently collaborates with GE by offering ceramics, CMC-specific, and general composites related curriculum for GE’s Edison Engineering Development Program students, for on-site classes at GE Aviation, and for co-op and graduate research project opportunities.”
Q: Why is this partnership important?
A: "UDRI has a long history of supporting GE Aviation's materials development programs, and our facilities, capabilities and expertise make us a great resource for the Dayton-Cincinnati Aerospace Corridor. It's important for UDRI to partner with private sector companies, because our combined and complementary strengths help make us more competitive, which in turn supports local economic development efforts. Partnerships between universities and the private sector also help universities attract the brightest students, which helps ensure there is a highly trained workforce ready and available to step in to fill next-generations jobs."
Q: What is the difference with this program than other UDRI research programs?
A: "Our work on GE CMC materials is similar to other research programs in that we work as a team across divisions and facilities within the Research Institute for the best and most cost-effective outcomes for our customer. In this case, our research is goal-driven rather than exploratory. We are supporting the development of technology and products that are in the pipeline for next-generation use."
Q: Wha other composite materials program is UDRI working on?
A: "Our research and development in composites spans more than 50 years, and has helped us build our reputation and strength in advanced materials."
“In general we specialize in composites and nanocomposite development, testing and manufacture for a wide variety of applications, from aerospace to wind turbines. One of our current specialty areas is in ‘multitasking’ composites for structural material that can also perform functions such as power generation, sensing, heating and other functions normally performed by adding separate components.”
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