Damage Science & Mechanics

In order to assure the safety and reliability of critical assets understanding the science of how systems and structures deteriorate and how this deterioration damages these assets and affects their mechanical performance is critical.

The Damage Science and Mechanics Laboratory works within the multiple disciplines needed to achieve this goal.
Sustainable system planning and design, life-extension, system prognostics, system and structural health monitoring are areas where this work finds application.

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Focus Areas Include:

• Detecting & tracking damage
• Novel and durable sensors
• Novel advanced signal analyses
• Detecting the onset of damage localization
• Nondestructive evaluation Infrastructure repair and smart replacement
• Characterization of service induced damage of composite materials
• Determining end-of-functional service life

Technical Challenges of Concern:

• Lack of deterioration evolution databases due in part to the traditional design paradigm
• Material variability
Lack of cost-benefits of preservation versus repair versus rehabilitation versus replacement

Detection and tracking of deterioration and damage development

• Damage tolerant design challenges
• Safe-life and Fail- safe design challenges
• Additive manufacturing challenges
• Identification of damage precursors