SPONSORED RESEARCH TOPICS

CURRENT

• ‘Processing and dynamic failure characterization of novel impact absorbing transparent interpenetrating polymer network’, DTRA, PI-PD, 2009-2012.
• ‘Development of prepreg and out-of-autoclave process for z-aligned carbon nanofiber toughened lightweight composites, NASA, co-PI, 2010-2013.
• ‘Processing, failure characterization and modeling of lightweight interpenetrating network composites’, Army Research Office, PI-PD, 2008-2011.
• 'Investigation of Strain Rate Effects on Crack Growth in Graphite-Epoxy Composites' NASA, 2006-2010.

COMPLETED

1. ‘Interaction between growing cracks and inclusion: Toughening mechanisms in heterogeneous materials’, National Science Foundation, PI-PD, 2007-2010.
2. 'High Strain Rate Fracture of Heterogeneous Materials, Army Research Office, PI-PD, 2004-2008.
3. 'Fracture of Polymeric Heterogeneous Materials with Micro-Fillers ', National Science Foundation, PI-PD, 2005-2006.
4. 'Static and Dynamic Failure Characterization of Composites' NASA, 2004-2005.
5. 'High Speed Imaging Equipment for Studying Dynamic Behavior of Functionally Graded Heterogeneous Materials', Army Research Office, PI-PD, 2002-2003. 
6. 'Influence of Compositional Gradients on the Dynamic Failure of Functionally Graded Materials', Army Research Office, PI-PD, 2001-2004. 
7. ‘Investigation of Elasto-Plastic Interfacial Crack Tip Fields Using Infrared Interferometry’, National Science Foundation, PI-PD, 2000- 2003. 
8. 'Instrumented Impact Testor for Studying Dynamic Fracture Behavior of Heterogeneous Materials', Army Research Office, PI-PD, 2001-2002.
9. ‘An infrared CGS for failure characterization of functionally graded materials’, Instrumentation Grant, PI-PD, Army Research Office, 1998-2000.
10. ‘Crack tip field mapping and failure characterization of functionally graded compositions’, PI-PD, Army Research Office, 1997-2000.
11. ‘Functionally graded materials characterization using optical techniques’, PI-PD, National Science Foundation 1996-2000.
12. ‘Joining and interfacial study of refractory alloy single crystals for high temperature applications’ co-PI, (PI: Ralph Zee, co-PI: Bill Gale), Air Force Office of Scientific Research, 1997-2000.
13. ‘Interfacial crack initiation under thermal-mechanical loading’, PI-PD, National Science Foundation, 1994-1997.
14. ‘Experimental simulation of crack initiation at bimaterial interfaces’, PI,-PD, National Science Foundation, 1991-1993.
15. University Research Instrumentation Program Grant, co-investigator, (PI: R.C. Jaeger,), National Science Foundation 1995-1997.