Project Description

The discovery, development, and manufacturing of new high-temperature materials (for temperatures >1100oC) are critically needed for hypersonic applications. Hypersonics technology development is a top Department of Defense priority. The unique requirements for hypersonic vehicles, in terms of elevated temperatures, loading, and environments, necessitates the development of new material systems specifically designed to meet these requirements. Specifically, we will characterize materials produced via manufacturing techniques developed at Purdue to produce near net-shaped, dense-wall structures comprised of robust, ultra-high-temperature ceramic composites (UHTCCs). Three-dimensional microstructural analysis, to evaluate the internal morphologies, sizes, and interconnectivities of the ceramic and refractory metal phases will be conducted using high energy X-ray characterization, along with traditional electron microscopy. In-situ analyses will also be conducted during three point bending at room temperature to determine the lattice strains in each phase and subsequent strain partitioning during such loading. Microstructure-sensitive finite element models will be instantiated based on the prior characterization. Such modeling will be used to predict desired microstructural features (phase contents, sizes, distributions) for enhanced performance. Based on these results, we will collaborate and engage with processing researchers, who will identify processing conditions to achieve the preferred microstructures and perform high-temperature mechanical tests to evaluate the UHTCC performance. 

Start Date

July 1, 2021 (but flexible)

Postdoc Qualifications

Experience with finite element modeling, microstructure modeling, image processing, high energy X-ray characterization, Matlab/Python coding

Co-Advisors

Michael D. Sangid (msangid@purdue.edu); School of Aeronautics and Astronautics
https://engineering.purdue.edu/~msangid/

Kenneth H. Sandhage (sandhage@purdue.edu); School of Materials Engineering
https://engineering.purdue.edu/MSE/people/ptProfile?resource_id=126421

References

M. B. Dickerson, P. J. Wurm, J. R. Schorr, W. P. Hoffman, E. Hunt, K. H. Sandhage, “Near Net-Shaped, Ultra-High Melting, Recession-Resistant Rocket Nozzles Liners via the Displacive Compensation of Porosity (DCP) Method,” J. Mater. Sci., 39 (19) 6005 (2004).

M. Caccia, M. Tabandeh-Khorshid, G. Itskos, A. R. Strayer, A. S. Caldwell, S. Pidaparti, S. Singnisai, A. D. Rohskopf, A. M. Schroeder, D. Jarrahbashi, T. Kang, S. Sahoo, N. R. Kadasala, A. Marquez-Rossy, M. H. Anderson, E. Lara-Curzio, D. Ranjan, A. Henry, K. H. Sandhage, “Ceramic/Metal Composites for Heat Exchangers in Concentrated Solar Power Plants,” Nature, 562 (7727) 406 (2018).

Imad, Hanhan, et al. "Predicting Microstructural Void Nucleation in Discontinuous Fiber Composites through Coupled in-situ X-ray Tomography Experiments and Simulations." Scientific Reports (Nature Publisher Group) 10.1 (2020).

Sangid MD. Coupling in situ experiments and modeling–Opportunities for data fusion, machine learning, and discovery of emergent behavior. Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science. 2020 Feb 1;24(1):100797.

Gustafson S, Ludwig W, Shade P, Naragani D, Pagan D, Cook P, Yildirim C, Detlefs C, Sangid MD. Quantifying microscale drivers for fatigue failure via coupled synchrotron X-ray characterization and simulations. Nature communications. 2020 Jun 24;11(1):1-0.