Composite Material Fabrication and Evaluation Facility

本提案寻求资金购买热压机、高压灭菌器和真空袋系统，用于制造本科课程实验室和学生项目的复合券。还要求为购买声发射仪器提供资金，该仪器将使学生能够评估复合材料部件的特性并监测复合材料结构的完整性。此外，还要求拨款购买一台冷冻机，用于在制造前长期储存复合材料。所有这些设备的主要目的是为力学课程的学生提供动手实验经验，培养学生在工程应用中有效利用复合材料所必需的物理直觉，并为学生提供将复合材料整合到大一、课程和毕业设计项目中的机会。这个项目被提议作为一个模型，在整个本科课程中结合复合材料，对课程的影响最小。该项目利用课程讲座、实验室经验和设计项目来培养学生对这类材料的理解。该项目从大一开始逐步向学生介绍复合材料，并一直持续到大四的顶点项目。该设备允许联合学院工程部的策略，即通过高质量的实验室经验和设计项目来加强课堂材料，并将其扩展到复合材料。这台设备也将为本科生在联合学院校园内提供更多的研究机会。

This proposal seeks funds to purchase a hot press, autoclave, and vacuum bag system for the fabrication of composite coupons for undergraduate course laboratories and student projects. Funding is also being requested for the purchase of an acoustic emission instrument that will give students the ability to evaluate the properties of composite components and to monitor the integrity of composite structures. Additionally, funds are requested for the purchase of a freezer that will be used for long term storage of composite materials prior to fabrication. The principal purpose for all of this equipment is to develop hands-on laboratory experiences for students in the mechanics courses laboratories that will develop the physical intuition in students that is necessary to effectively utilize composite materials in engineering applications and to provide students the opportunity to integrate composite materials into freshman, course, and capstone design projects. This project is proposed as a model for the incorporation of composite materials throughout an undergraduate curriculum with minimal impact on the curriculum. The project use course lectures, laboratory experiences, and design projects to develop the students understanding of this class of materials This project gradually introduces students to composite materials starting in the freshman year and continues through to the senior capstone project. This equipment allows the Union College Engineering Division's strategy of reinforcing lecture material on a phenomenon with quality laboratory experiences and design projects to be extended to composite materials. This equipment will also provide undergraduate students with more research opportunities on the Union College campus.