Materials & Structures for

Extreme Environments

atNASA Glenn Research Center

Joyce A. Dever

Deputy Chief, Materials & Structures Division

2nd Annual Biomimicry Summit 2017 - Nature Inspired Exploration for Aerospace

October 3-6, 2017

High Temperature and

Smart Alloys Branch

Ceramic and Polymer Composites Branch

Structural Dynamics Branch

Environmental Effects and Coatings Branch

Structural Mechanics Branch

Materials Chemistry and Physics Branch

Mechanical Systems Design and Integration Branch

Rotating and Drive Systems Branch

Multiscale and Multiphysics

Modeling Branch

Mechanisms and Tribology Branch

Materials and Structures Division

High Temperature

Materials Systems

Lightweight Materials

and Structures

Electrical and Power

System Materials

Computationally

Modeled Materials

and Structures

Mechanisms and

Drive Systems

Flight Structures

Individual Disciplines Come Together to Achieve Multi-Disciplinary Goals

Addressing Key Aerospace ChallengesHigher temperature and harsh environments for aerospace propulsion and planetary entry

Lightweight requirements for large structures

Ultra-efficient aircraftrequire advances in power system components

Lightweight and durable mechanical system/mechanisms

Materials degradation in harsh space environments

Computational modeling across multiple length scales

High Temperature Materials

High Temperature Non-Metallic

Materials Systems for Turbine Engines

Objective

Develop and validate new engine

material systems to enable high

temperature / high efficiency

turbine engine operations

Successfully Tested Ceramic Matric Composite /

Environmental Barrier Coating System over 300

hours at 10 ksi and 2950°F coating temp

Successfully welded Single Crystal to

Polycrystalline samples while retaining

required mechanical properties

Fine Grain

Bore/Web Alloy

Single Crystal

Cast Rim Alloy

Hybrid (Metallic)

Turbine Disk

Objective

Develop hybrid disk concept

with tailored material

properties to survive

operational environment of

Compact High Overall

Pressure Ratio engines

Lightweight Materials and Structures

Hybrid Gear Technology for

Rotorcraft

Objective

Develop hybrid drive system

components combining metallic

and composite materials to enable

significant weight reduction in

aerospace transmissions

Hybrid gear/shaft/bearing assembly

successfully tested to 5000 Hp8 element array shown in far-field range

Conformal, Lightweight Antennas for

Aeronautical Communications

Technology

Objective

Develop a phased array antenna

which mitigates ground station

interference built out of lightweight,

low dielectric aerogels with

conformal design to reduce drag

and increase simplicity

Electrical and Power System Materials

Spin cast ribbons of advanced soft

magnetic materials

Development of Nano-Crystalline

Magnetic Materials for Increased

Efficiency Power Components

Objective

Develop advanced magnetic

materials to enable high

frequency, high efficiency power

components (such as inductor

filters and transformers) for

aircraft hybrid electric propulsion

Advanced Insulation

Systems for High Voltage

Electric Cables

Objective

Develop advanced insulation

technologies with high thermal

conductivity and high electrical

insulation properties to enable

high frequency, high voltage

cables for aircraft hybrid electric

propulsion

Multilayered Functional Insulation System Concept

Core (Cu or Al)

Computationally Modeled Materials & Structures

Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI) test result

validate distortion tolerant fan model

Aeroelasticity Modeling of

Distortion Tolerant Turbine

Engine Fan

Objective

Develop capability to accurately

model turbine engine fan in

extreme airflow distortion

environment that exists in advanced

concept aircraft systems (BLI)

Multiscale Modeling of

Composite Materials and

Structures

Objective

Develop capabilities to accurately

model composite structures with

comparable fidelity as state of the

art monolithic material models to

enable significant weight savings

Mechanisms and Drive Systems

High Temperature Shape Memory

Alloy (SMA) Mechanisms

Objective

Capitalize on unique properties of

newly developed superelastic

materials for extreme

applications, including bearings

and tires

NiTi Superelastic Materials

Development

Objective

Develop novel SMA – based

actuation technologies to enable

simplified, robust, lightweight

actuation systems

Spanwise Adaptive Wing Actuator designed and

built using GRC’s NiTiHf high temperature SMA

Non-corrosive, highly

shock tolerant bearings

for ISS urine processor

Superelastic spring tire exhibits

superior traction and durability

over current solid rover wheels

Flight Structures

Loads and Dynamics Testing of Spacecraft Systems

Objective

Evaluate structural integrity of large spacecraft system designs

through testing of structural test articles under expected dynamic

launch loads

Modal testing of Service Module structural test

article at Plumbrook Station

Acoustic launch load testing at Reverberant

Acoustic Test Facility at Plumbrook Station

Multi-Disciplinary Teamwork -

Overcoming Challenges of Extreme Aerospace Environments

Glenn Research Center

Materials & Structures Division

From Basic Research …

…to Flight Systems