Acquisition of Instrumentation for Material Characterization

由该奖项资助的三件仪器将成为马萨诸塞大学达特茅斯大学土木工程和环境工程系材料表征设施的核心。在土木与环境工程、机械工程、计算机与信息系统、纺织科学等领域，为研究用户选择了特定的设备和配套仪器，以提供最大的收益。研究应用将集中在结构/机械和环境应用中的下一代材料和回收材料。按预期用途排列的典型材料包括：复合材料、再生材料、混凝土、钢、钛、铝和土壤。一个具体的例子是使用目前由首席调查员之一进行的NSF项目中的仪器来测试钛/高模碳纤维混杂复合材料层板。该专用设备包括用于表征机械性能的材料测试工作站(MTW)、表面积分析仪(SAA)和用于确定材料元素组成的能量色散X射线显微分析系统(EDXMS)。材料表征设施将支持土木与环境工程系的学术活动，以及马萨诸塞大学达特茅斯大学土木与环境工程的新理学硕士学位。材料表征设施的概念为结构和环境学科的教师提供了一个在材料的共同主题上合作的机会，尽管这两个学科很少有共同的研究兴趣。该设施的实现将促进这两个学科和许多其他学科的研究，使不同的观点和专业知识得以交流。马萨诸塞大学达特茅斯大学工程学院的土木与环境系于2004年秋季开始了一个理学硕士项目。通过这个奖项获得的仪器将是将教师目前的优势带到下一个水平的关键组成部分，在材料表征的共同主题领域。研究生和本科生研究助理将直接受益于他们接触到的尖端设备。此外，学院不同部门对该设备的多种使用将促进多学科研究项目的开展。当前/目标项目的影响包括更多地回收废旧材料、开发新的先进材料和改进安全(耐火性和铁路保护)。

ABSTRACTThe three pieces of instrumentation funded by this award will be the core of a Materials Characterization facility at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department. The specific equipment and accompanying instruments have been selected to provide the maximum benefit to research users in the areas of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer and Information Systems, and Textile Sciences. The research applications will focus on next generation materials and recycled materials in structural/mechanical and environmental applications. Typical materials in order of expected use will include: composite materials, recycled materials, concrete, steel, titanium, aluminum, and soils. A specific example is to use the instruments for a current NSF project conducted by one of the Principal Investigators in testing hybrid titanium/high modulus carbon fiber composite laminates. The specific equipment consists of a Material Testing Workstation (MTW) for characterizing mechanical properties, a Surface Area Analyzer (SAA), and an Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis System (EDXMS) for determining the elemental composition of a material. The Materials Characterization facility will support the scholarly activities of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the new Master of Science degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The concept of a Materials Characterization facility has provided an opportunity for faculty in the structures and environmental disciplines to collaborate on the common theme of materials even though these two disciplines seldom have common research interests. The realization of the facility will generate new thrusts in research in these two and many other disciplines by enabling an exchange of different perspectives and expertise.The Civil & Environmental Department in College of Engineering of University of Massachusetts Dartmouth began a Master of Science program in the Fall of 2004. The instrumentation acquired through this award will be key components to bring the current strengths of the faculty to the next level in the common theme area of Materials Characterization. Graduate and undergraduate research assistants will directly benefit from their exposure to the cutting edge equipment. Furthermore, the multiple use of this equipment by different departments in the College will enhance the multidisciplinary research projects. The impact from current/targeted projects includes the greater recycling of waste materials, the development of new advanced materials and the improvement of safety (fire resistance and railroad protection).