MRI: Acquisition of a Material Testing System for Research and Educational Training in Static and Dynamic Characterization of Advanced Structural Nanocomposites

摘要（技术）聚合物纳米复合材料是几个高科技领域的兴趣。虽然应用是多种多样的，但由纳米复合材料组成的结构将受到的载荷范围是相当复杂的。塔斯基吉大学先进材料中心（T-CAM）的研究人员成功地利用了纳米技术，并能够通过NSF-CREST，-IEGRT，PREM，EPSCoR，ARO，AFRL和ONR的支持生产新型结构复合材料。迄今为止所做的大部分工作是在室温下静态条件下单轴载荷下材料的表征。T-CAM的现有设施不足以在多轴载荷条件下进行测试。目前还没有关于复合材料在扭转-轴向载荷条件下以及暴露于不同环境条件下的表征数据。这些数据将对设计人员在设计结构部件和开发精确的寿命预测模型方面非常有用。因此，这项建议的主旨主要是针对获得一个新的双轴材料测试系统（MTS）与环境室，以提高目前的研究能力，并促进正在进行的研究活动在纳米复合材料领域的执行。获得该系统将使大量非裔美国学生从本科生到博士生受益。科学和工程学科的水平。摘要（非技术性）塔斯基吉大学的先进材料中心（T-CAM）正在进行涉及纳米技术的研究，其中纳米材料的尺寸至少为人类头发尺寸的千分之一，通过国家科学基金会、联邦实验室和工业界的赠款，用于增强纤维增强复合材料的性能。这些材料用于飞机、火箭、汽车和网球拍时，使它们更坚固，同时也更轻。然而，在这些应用中放心使用之前，需要在不同的载荷条件下进行测试，如组合扭转、弯曲或拉伸。此外，这些类型的测试需要在非常低到高温下进行。通过这项建议，我们正在寻求购买一个新的最先进的材料测试系统，将有助于这些测试。大量的非裔美国学生从本科到博士水平的科学和工程目前参与纳米技术研究在T-CAM。该设施的收购将使这些学生在纳米技术的新兴领域有一个动手的经验，从而创造了国家急需的技术劳动力是高技能和技术能力。

Abstract (Technical)Polymeric nanocomposites are of interest to several high technology sectors. While the applications are diverse, the range of loadings that a structure made up of nanocomposites will be subjected to is quite complex. Researchers at Tuskegee University's Center for Advanced Materials (T-CAM) have successfully utilized nanotechnology and are able to produce new types of structural composites through the support from NSF-CREST, -IEGRT, PREM, EPSCoR, ARO, AFRL, and ONR. Most of the work done to date is in the characterization of materials under uni-axial loading at room temperature under static conditions. The existing facilities at T-CAM are inadequate to carry out testing under multi-axial loading conditions. No data is currently available on the characterization of nanocomposite materials under combined torsion-axial loading conditions and also when exposed to different environmental conditions. Such data will be extremely useful to the designers in designing structural components and also in developing accurate life prediction models. The thrust of this proposal is, therefore, primarily directed towards acquiring a new biaxial material testing system (MTS) with an environmental chamber to enhance the current research capability and facilitate the execution of on-going research activities in the area of nanocomposites. Acquisition of the system will benefit a large number of African American students from undergraduate to Ph.D. level in science and engineering disciplines. Abstract (Non-Technical)The Center for Advanced Materials (T-CAM) at Tuskegee University is conducting research involving nanotechnology in which nanomaterials which have at least one dimension of the order of thousandth of a human hair size are utilized to enhance the properties of fiber reinforced composite materials through grants founded by National Science Foundation, Federal Labs and industry. These materials when used in airplanes, rockets, cars, and tennis racquets make them stronger at the same time much lighter. However, before they can be utilized with confidence in these applications, they need to be tested under different loading conditions like combined twisting, bending or stretching. Further, these kinds of tests needs to carried out at very low to high temperatures. Through this proposal, we are seeking to purchase a new state of the art material test system that would facilitate these tests. A large number of African-American students from undergraduate to Ph. D level in science and engineering are currently involved with nanotechnology research at T-CAM. Acquisition of this facility will enable these students to have a hand-on experience in the emerging areas of nanotechnology, thereby creating much needed technical work force for the nation that is highly skilled and technically competent.