Advanced brittle materials are increasingly considered, and sometimes required, for a broad spectrum of high-performance structural applications in aerospace and terrestrial propulsion and power systems, ranging from static and rotating turbine parts (for use in unmanned aerial vehicles, auxiliary power units, distributed power generation, etc.) to thermal protection systems to missile radomes. Intermetallic matrix composites (IMCs) are under investigation for intermediate temperature regimes in compressors and low-pressure turbines. For extremely high temperatures, ceramics and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are being developed for applications including turbine combustors, vanes, and, ultimately, integral turbine blades and disks. In addition, brittle materials are frequently employed in other "multi-use" applications in numerous non-aerospace fields, including automotive, electronics, glass, medical, etc.

Successfully using high-tech brittle materials for structural applications that often push the envelope of a material's capabilities requires design engineers to recognize that brittle material components must be designed and analyzed differently than their traditional metallic counterparts. Because many component applications typically encounter severe long-term environmental and/or operating conditions, innovative structural concepts and design strategies are required to achieve optimal use of these advanced materials.

Branch personnel perform fundamental research and develop and demonstrate technology for understanding and predicting the complex behavior of these brittle materials. The Branch maintains world-class expertise in analytical, computational and experimental methods for characterizing brittle material behavior and predicting component reliability, durability and lifetime integrity. These activities encompass both monolithic and composite materials over their expected operating regimes. Computational modeling capabilties include survivability assessment in fast-fracture, fatigue, and creep. Software codes for reliability and life prediction for components fabricated of monolithic or composite brittle materials are primary deliverables of these modeling efforts. Experimental activities focus on determining and characterizing brittle material mechanical behavior and durability at extreme environmental conditions, similar to those anticipated in service. Benchmark, complex coupon, and proof testing strategies are employed to verify analytical models and reliability algorithms that are developed within the Branch. Integrating analytical failure models with experimental investigation of faiure mechanisms enables verification of Branch-developed life prediction methodologies and facilitates advances in material processing. The impact is to improve performance, reduce development cycle times and cost, and ultimately yield safe, reliable components optimized for weight and durability.

+ Learn more about the CARES software series for brittle material components
+ Learn more about our experimental capabilities for brittle materials