Aerospace Materials

Why Aerospace Materials?

In the continuous pursuit of higher performance and lower weight, the search for advanced materials with high specific properties has always been a critical component of aerospace engineering. To optimize performance, aerospace systems usually involve a wide range of materials, from ceramic thermal barrier coatings in jet engines to carbon-fiber reinforced composites in wings and fuselages, from high-temperature TiAl metals to high strength Titanium used in landing gears. A growing area of research in aerospace materials focuses on developing multifunctional materials, i.e., materials that serve not only structural functions, but also other functions such as electro-magnetics, active cooling,

What is some of the current research in Aerospace Materials at Illinois?

The research being conducted at Illinois in aerospace materials is very diverse. Several projects focus on characterizing experimentally and computationally the constitutive and failure properties of a wide range of materials at various length and time scales, and under a wide variety of loading conditions, from fatigue to impact. Other research projects focus on the development of novel manufacturing techniques, and on the design, manufacture and assessment of biomimetic, multifunctional materials.

Who are the faculty members in the area?