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	+ NASA Home + NASA GRC Home + R&T Directorate Home + Structures Division Home + Life Prediction Branch Home		The Life Prediction Branch features multiple world-class experimental research facilities designed to evaluate the full breadth of material behaviors under the extreme loading conditions and environments typical of aerospace propulsion applications. Materials of primary interest include monolithic ceramics and metallics, neat polymeric resins, and the multitude of fiber-reinforced composite forms generated when each is used as the matrix constituent. In total, the Branch operates over fifty computer-controlled uniaxial and axial/torsion test frames designed to investigate a wide range of thermal, environmental and loading scenarios at the coupon and sub-component levels, including: Elastic properties (e.g., stiffness, Poisson's ratio, strength) Static deformation/failure (e.g., creep, stress relaxation) Quasi-static response (e.g., tension, compression, shear, bending) Low cycle and thermomechanical fatigue High cycle fatigue Long term fatigue/creep durability Fracture toughness Crack growth Tests are conducted in a variety of environments including air, inert gases and vacuum, with temperature capabilities to 1650 degrees Celsius (3000 degrees Fahrenheit). Many unique facilities and specially designed testing apparatuses also exist to experimentally evaluate and characterize the advanced materials of interest. + Learn more about available ceramics facilities + Learn more about available fatigue facilities + Learn more about available fracture facilities Visit the other areas of our website listed below to learn more. + Test Standards + Database Tools
	+ Inspector General Hotline + Equal Employment Opportunity Data Posted Pursuant     to the No Fear Act + Budgets, Strategic Plans and Accountability Reports + Freedom of Information Act + The President's Management Agenda + NASA Privacy Statement, Disclaimer,and Accessibility Certification Explore. Discover. Understand. Curator: Lesley A. Janosik NASA Official: Anthony M. Calomino Last Updated: August 9, 2005 + RXL Internal Site (GRC only) + Web IntraNet at Glenn (GRC only) Many files on this site are posted as Adobe Acrobat PDF (Portable Document Format) files and require a PDF reader, such as Adobe Reader, to view.