Research

Materials in Extreme Environments

Exposure of materials to extreme environments is witnessed in a broad spectrum of industries including nuclear and thermal power plants, aerospace, and automotive. All these sectors share similar characteristics. The current focus and objective of the research effort is to integrate the three aspects, notably basic knowledge of materials, enabling technologies, and systems to develop next generation engineered systems with dramatically enhanced performance. Currently working through CASSMAR, The Center for Advanced Space Science and Mission Assurance Research at UTEP, the research team is studying artifacts of the Space Shuttle Columbia in order to understand the degradation response of the various material systems to the extremes of the orbital re-entry. Work of this nature is critical to the future success of manned space flight and the development of the commercial space sector.