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Library > Fact Sheets > AFOSR: Structural Mechanics
AFOSR: STRUCTURAL MECHANICS
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Aerospace, Chemical and Material Sciences Directorate
Structural Mechanics
Dr. Victor Giurgiutiu, Program Manager
This fundamental basic research program addresses the US Air Force needs in the following application areas: 1) New and revolutionary flight structures, 2) Sustainment of Air Force fleet for mission readiness under all conditions, and 3) Structural dynamics under non-stationary conditions and extreme environments. Other structural mechanics problems relevant to the US Air Force are also of interest.
The structural mechanics program encourages fundamental basic research that will generate understanding, models, analytical tools, numerical codes, and predictive methodologies validated by carefully conductive experiments.
Fundamental basic research issues for new and revolutionary flight structures include: "disruptive" new structural concepts and unprecedented flight configurations; reconfigurable adaptive structures with on-demand shape morphing for real-time respond to changing missions demands and threat environment; hybrid structures of dissimilar materials (metallic, composite, ceramic, etc.) with multi-material joints and/or interfaces under dynamic loads, blast, and extreme environments; controlled-flexibility distributed-actuation smart structures for flapping/clapping flight; physics-based models to quantitatively predict the materials performance and durability in flight structures operating at various regimes.
Fundamental basic research issues for sustainment include: prediction of the structural flaws distribution and service-induced damage on each aircraft and at fleet level; structural analysis that accounts for variability due to materials, processing, fabrication, maintenance actions, changing mission profiles; on-board health monitoring and embedded NDE to (a) track mission effects on the structure, (b) provide on-demand structural health bulletins (diagnosis and prognosis) and (c) give the commander a state-awareness risk-based approach to mission planning and aircraft maintenance; prediction of structural "hot spots" prone to (a) cyclic plastic deformations; (b) local buckling; (c) crack growth in high-temperature flight structures, with changing material properties, and accumulating fatigue damage in local regions
Fundamental basic research issues for structural dynamics include: control of dynamic response of extremely flexible nonlinear structures; control of unsteady energy flow in nonlinear structures during various flight conditions; unsteady nonlinear structural dynamics in interaction with air flow, unsteady heating, directed energy, and servo-controls at various Mach and Reynolds numbers; nonlinear dynamics and vibration control of thin-wall structures of functionally graded hybrid materials with internal vascular networks under extreme loading conditions.
White papers are encouraged as an initial and valuable step prior to proposal development and submission. The white papers that are found of interest will be encouraged to develop into full proposals.
Follow instructions:
How to Submit a Technical Report
Annual Progress Summary Report Template
Send all electronic reports to technicalreports@afosr.af.mil
Also cc to Program Manager victor.giurgiutiu@afosr.af.mil
Contact:
Dr. Victor Giurgiutiu
AFOSR/NA
Tele: (703) 696-7259
DSN 426-7259
FAX (703) 696-8451
Email: victor.giurgiutiu@afosr.af.mil
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