Materials Joining Engineering Laboratory Upgrade

该奖项由2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助。该奖项支持勒图诺大学独立的焊接/材料连接工程实验室的学术研究基础设施改造。该实验室用于勒图诺大学的材料加入工程项目，这是美国仅有的两个经教唆认可的材料加入工程项目之一。该项目700多名毕业生在重型制造、国防和能源领域工作，96%的应届毕业生在毕业六个月内就业。新的工程学硕士课程将于2010年秋季在勒图尔诺大学启动，预计将进一步导致在实验室进行更多的外部资助研究。该实验室位于一座有53年历史、8400平方英尺的金属建筑内，随着对电力、改善的通风和更清洁的环境的需求增加，以运行现代研究设备，这座建筑已经变得不够用。该奖项将支持以下实验室翻修，以提高研究能力，同时解决环境和安全问题：(1)一台新的700千伏安变压器和相应的高压馈线将取代两台老化的225千伏安和110千伏安变压器，旧线路将被铜母线和适当的配电箱取代；(2)每个焊接站的单独无排气通风设备将取代效率低下的风扇系统；(3)屋顶泄漏将得到修复，并将为高湾区安装绝缘和空调设备；(4)将在金相区安装基本过滤和危险废物处理设施；以及(5)高架荧光灯具将取代不足的照明。智力价值：拟议的翻修将通过提高材料加入工程实验室中进行的实验的可靠性、重复性和准确性来改变加入研究的材料，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，减少连接电子材料时使用昂贵金属的工艺，以及在修复核反应堆部件时消除焊接熔敷裂纹的方法。更广泛的影响：升级后的实验室设施将作为一个多用户站点，为越来越多的学生提供国家和国际研究和指导。随着2010年秋季工程学研究生课程的增加，使用该设施的学生数量预计将增加40%-50%。此外，该实验室每年平均接待来自当地高中、社区大学和职业学校的500名参观者，其中许多学校传统上为人数较少的群体提供服务。实验室设施的现代化将有助于改善工程学教师和招生情况。

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.