Composite Material Fabrication and Evaluation Facility

该提案寻求资金购买热压机，高压灭菌器和真空袋系统，用于制造本科实验室和学生项目的复合试样。还要求提供资金，用于购买声发射仪器，使学生能够评估复合材料部件的性能，并监测复合材料结构的完整性。此外，还请求提供资金，用于购买一个冷冻箱，用于在复合材料制造前长期储存。所有这些设备的主要目的是为力学课程实验室的学生开发实践实验室经验，这些实验室将培养学生的物理直觉，这是有效利用复合材料在工程应用中所必需的，并为学生提供将复合材料整合到新生，课程和顶点设计项目中的机会。这个项目被提议作为一个模型，在整个本科课程的复合材料与课程的影响最小。该项目使用课程讲座，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渐向学生介绍复合材料，并一直持续到高级顶点项目。该设备允许联合学院工程部的战略，加强讲座材料的现象与质量实验室经验和设计项目扩展到复合材料。这些设备也将为本科生提供更多的研究机会在联合学院校园。

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.