Senior Technologists

Dr. Bruce M. Steinetz

Biography

View his Publications

Dr. Bruce Steinetz is recognized as the Agency Expert on seal technology and tribology for extreme environments found in both aeronautic and space applications. He conceives and develops advanced concepts for (a) seals for military and commercial aircraft engines, (b) thermal barriers for Shuttle solid rocket motors, re-entry vehicle control surfaces, and hypersonic propulsion systems, (c) pressure seals for the Shuttle Main Landing gear doors, and Constellation spacecraft advanced docking and berthing systems, (d) mechanical actuation systems (clearance control systems) and geared/ traction drives. He has 23 years experience at NASA Glenn Research Center; and currently directs the 12 member Seal Team and oversees $>3M/yr budget.

Dr. Steinetz developed and patented a braided carbon fiber rope thermal barrier for the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Nozzle to prevent hot (5500 ˚F) gas effects on nozzle joint Viton O-rings (similar to Shuttle Challenger O-ring issue) to fly on Shuttle STS-122. This thermal barrier technology has flown four times on the Atlas V launch vehicle, including the recent Pluto Horizons Mission. He has provided technical direction for the Shuttle Main Landing Gear (MLG) door seal leakage tests (Return to Flight (RTF)). These findings helped JSC/KSC engineers overcome MLG door closing problem and provide data to support flight decisions. He also oversaw Shuttle Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) wing leading edge material permeability tests (RTF). Furthermore, he oversaw the X-38 rudder-fin seal critical performance tests (flow, porosity, resiliency) qualifying seals for vehicle flight.

Dr. Steinetz conducted pioneering research in hypersonic engine seals for the National Aerospace Plane (NASP) Project and oversaw U.S.-wide NASP contractual engine and airframe seal development for NASA and the Air Force. He currently serves as Seal Lead for the Air Force/NASA-wide Re-entry Vehicle Thermal Protection System Panel. He is a member of the Air Force X-51 Scramjet Engine Flight Demonstration project Review Board. He also served on the Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) Antennae Anomaly Board; assisted in identifying root cause of antennae alignment problem.

Education

Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve Univ., 1991
M.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve Univ., 1986
B.S. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve Univ., 1983

Technical Memberships/Professional Affiliation

Member AIAA (Associate Fellow), ASME, STLE
Licensed Professional Engineer: State of Ohio
Chair of ASME’s Propulsion Technical Committee (2005). Vice Chair, 2004; Secretary, 2003.
Hosts/Chairs annual NASA Seal Workshop where 80-90 representatives from aero-space companies, academia, NASA, the Air Force, and seal vendors hear the recent advances in seal technology.
Technical Area Chair for the Joint Propulsion Conference System Concepts and Supporting Technologies Area. (2005-2006)
Chairs the Joint Propulsion Conference Seals Sessions each year (1994-present).
Session Chair for seals sessions for the International Symposium on Rotating Machinery. (2006)

Classes Taught:

Introduction to Mechanical Engineering taught to elementary and junior high school students (2000-2005; National Engineer Week activities)
Guest Lecturer Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Short Course: Design and Selection of traction drives (1985)

Dr. Steinetz served as Judge on the prestigious R&D 100 Award Panel selecting the 100 most significant new technical products of the year.

Dr. Steinetz has a written a total of 172 reports or papers and presented at 16 International Conferences. He has 26 total journal articles to date, and his works have been cited 117 times (including patent citations). He has authored three Book Chapters on Seals, (e.g.: J. Wiley Mechanical Engineers Reference Handbook; second and third editions)

Patents

Dr. Steinetz has been awarded 10 Patents for pioneering seal development work:

Acoustic Seal, (US Patent #7,086,648; Aug, 2006)
Non-Contacting Finger Seal, (US Patent 6,811,154 B2, 2004)
High Temperature Seal for Large Structural Movements, (US Patent 6,702,300 B1, 2004)
Rocket Motor Joint Construction Including Thermal Barrier (US Patent 6,446,979 B1, 2002);
Resilient Braided Rope Seal (US Patent 6,039,325, 2000);
High Temperature, Bellows Hybrid Seal (US Patent 5,332,239, 1994);
High Temperature, Flexible Fiber-Preform Seal (US Patent 5,082,293, 1992);
High Temperature, Flexible Pressure-Actuated Brush Seal (US Patent 5,076,590, 1991);
High Temperature, Flexible Thermal Barrier Seal (US Patent 5,014,917, 1991);
High Temperature, Flexible Seal (ceramic wafer seal) (US Patent 4,917,302, 1990)

Patent pending: Resilient Flexible, Pressure-Activated Seal, (LEW 17,166-1)

Honors and Awards

2004 NASA Agency-Wide Invention of the Year Award (Awarded in 2005): Rocket Motor Joint Construction Including Thermal Barrier (U.S. Patent 6,446,979). NASA Chief Engineer, Rex Geveden, Chair of the NASA Invention and Contributions Board, estimated a savings of “one-quarter billion dollars to America” by using the thermal barrier on Shuttle and Atlas V.
2005 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal for exceptional contributions to innovative seals research, and creating and leading a nationally recognized NASA Seals Research Team.
2004 Group Achievement Award for developing control surface seals for future re-entry vehicles.
2003 NorTech Award for Shuttle and Atlas V thermal barrier development.
2002 X-38 Team Award for successful development and assessment of rudder-fin seals.
2002 NASA Agency-Wide Turning Goals into Reality Award for work performed developing the Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor thermal barriers.
2002 Manned Space Flight Awareness Award for Shuttle thermal barrier development
1999 Abe Silverstein Award for outstanding contributions made in developing high-temperature sealing technologies for space, aeronautics and industrial applications.
1999 Astronaut Silver Snoopy Award for outstanding support for flight safety and mission success in developing the carbon thermal barrier for the Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor.
1996 NASA Agency-Wide Invention of the Year Award: High Temperature Fiber Preform Seal applied successfully to industrial gas production equipment (Praxair) and aircraft engines (PW & GE)
1995 Technology Transfer Award granted by Federal Laboratory consortium
1990 R&D 100 Awards: High Temperature Flexible Ceramic Wafer Seal
1985 R&D 100 Award: Servo-mechanism for propeller-pitch change. (with GE)