Materials Joining Engineering Laboratory Upgrade

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。该奖项支持LeTourneau大学独立焊接/材料连接工程实验室的学术研究基础设施改造。该实验室被LeTourneau大学的材料连接工程项目所使用，该项目是美国仅有的两个abet认证的材料连接工程项目之一。该计划的700多名毕业生在重工业，国防和能源部门工作，96%的新毕业生在毕业后六个月内就业。新的工程理学硕士项目将于2010年秋季在LeTourneau大学启动，预计将进一步增加外部资助的实验室研究。该实验室位于一座已有53年历史的8,400平方英尺的金属建筑中，随着对电力、改善的通风和更清洁的环境的需求增加，该建筑已经不足以运行现代研究设备。该合同将支持以下实验室改造，以提高研究能力，同时解决环境和安全问题：(1)一个新的700千伏安变压器和相应的高压馈线将取代两个老化的225千伏安和110千伏安变压器，旧的布线将被铜母线和足够的配电箱取代；(2)每个焊接工位的单独无排气通风装置将取代效率低下的风机系统；(3)修补屋顶漏水，安装隔热材料和高湾区空调机组；(4)在金相区设置基本过滤和危险废物处理功能；(5)高台荧光灯灯具将取代不足的照明。智力优势：拟议的改造将通过提高材料连接工程实验室进行的实验的可靠性、可重复性和准确性来改变材料连接研究，并通过减少环境污染和推进新材料的实验来扩大研究能力。翻新后的实验室将提供实验能力，以调查研究课题，如高强度钢的大功率混合焊接创新，减少连接电子材料使用昂贵金属的工艺，以及修复核反应堆部件时消除焊缝裂纹的方法。更广泛的影响：升级后的实验室设施将成为国内和国际研究的多用户站点，并为越来越多的学生提供指导。随着2010年秋季工程研究生课程的增加，使用该设施的学生人数预计将增加40-50%。此外，该实验室每年平均接待来自当地高中、社区学院和贸易学校的500名访客，其中许多传统上服务于大量代表性不足的群体。实验室设施的现代化将有助于提高工程教师和学生的招聘。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This award supports academic research infrastructure renovation for the stand-alone Welding/Materials Joining Engineering Laboratory at LeTourneau University. This laboratory is used by the Materials Joining Engineering program at LeTourneau University, one of only two ABET-accredited Materials Joining Engineering programs in the United States. More than 700 graduates of the program work in the heavy manufacturing, defense and energy sectors, and 96% of new graduates are employed within six months of graduation. The new Master of Science in engineering program, to be launched at LeTourneau University in fall 2010, is expected to further lead to increased externally funded research conducted in the laboratory. The laboratory is housed in an aging, 53 year-old, 8,400 square foot metal building that has become inadequate as demands for electrical power, improved ventilation and cleaner environments have increased to operate modern research equipment. This award will support the following laboratory renovations in order to advance the research capabilities while addressing environmental and safety issues: (1) a new 700 kVA transformer and corresponding high voltage feed lines will replace the two aging 225 kVA and 110 kVA transformers, and old wiring will be replaced with copper bus bars and adequate distribution boxes; (2) individual exhaust-less ventilation devices at each welding station will replace the inefficient fan-based system; (3) roof leaks will be repaired, and insulation and an air conditioning unit for the high bay area will be installed; (4) basic filtering and hazardous waste disposal features in the metallography area will be installed; and (5) high bay fluorescent fixtures will replace inadequate lighting. Intellectual Merit: The proposed renovations will transform materials joining research through increased reliability, reproducibility and accuracy of experiments performed in the Materials Joining Engineering Laboratory, and expand research capabilities by reducing environmental contamination and advancing experimentation on novel materials. The renovated laboratory will provide experimental capabilities to investigate research topics such as high power hybrid welding innovations for high strength steels, processes to reduce the use of costly metals for joining electronic materials, and methods to eliminate cracks in weld deposits when repairing nuclear reactor components. Broader Impacts: The upgraded laboratory facility will serve as a multi-user site for national and international research and mentoring for an ever increasing number of students. With the addition of a graduate program in engineering as of fall 2010, the number of students who use the facility is expected to increase by 40-50%. Additionally, each year the laboratory hosts an average of 500 visitors from local high schools, community colleges and trade schools, many of which traditionally serve a high number of underrepresented groups. Modernization of the laboratory facilities will serve to improve engineering faculty and student recruitment.