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RAP opportunity at Air Force Research Laboratory     AFRL

Aircraft Structural Analysis

Location

Aerospace Systems Directorate, RQ/Aerospace Vehicles Division

opportunity location
13.30.09.C0753 Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 454337103

Advisers

name email phone
Stephen Clay stephen.clay.2@us.af.mil 937.656.8824

Description

Significant advances have been achieved in aircraft structural analysis methodologies over the past few decades, including numerous techniques currently emerging from academia and small businesses. The Air Force is interested in maturing these methods and developing new techniques for use in the design, certification, and sustainment of future aircraft.

The focus of this research opportunity is to evaluate and improve cutting edge numerical modeling approaches in order to increase the fidelity of structural integrity predictions and to improve structural efficiency without overly compromising computational efficiency. New cutting-edge techniques will be developed and applied to problems of increased complexity in order to overcome the barriers that are currently limiting the adoption of advanced air dominance capabilities. Areas of interest include (1) progressive damage and impact of composite structures, (2) fatigue and fracture of metallic structures, (3) fluid-structure interactions, (4) multi-length-scale modeling, (5) stochastic modeling, (6) aero-elasticity analysis, and (7) multi-physics analysis (e.g. thermal, acoustic, fluid, etc.). Research could involve the use of user developed analysis frameworks and subroutines for existing commercial products (i.e. - Abaqus, ANSYS, LS-Dyna, NASTRAN, AFGROW, NESSUS, etc.). State-of-the-art laboratory facilities, materials, and in-house expertise are available to validate the advanced models through fabrication, testing, and data reduction of test articles.

Keywords:

Structural analysis, progressive damage, fatigue, fracture, composite, metal, experimental validation

Reference:

S. P. Engelstad and S. B. Clay, “Comparison of Composite Damage Growth Tools for Static Behavior of Notched Composite Laminates”, Journal of Composite Materials, v 51, n 10, p 1493-1524, May 2017.

key words
Structural analysis, progressive damage, fatigue, fracture, composite, metal, experimental validation

Eligibility

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens
Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants

Stipend

Base Stipend Travel Allotment Supplementation
$80,000.00 $5,000.00

$3,000 Supplement for Doctorates in Engineering & Computer Science

Experience Supplement:
Postdoctoral and Senior Associates will receive an appropriately higher stipend based on the number of years of experience past their PhD.

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