| Professor Beuth's research interests
are in the area of solid mechanics. Much
of his work relates to his expertise in
the areas of fracture mechanics and the
mechanics of coatings and layered materials.
His current research includes modeling and
experimental work in four areas.
One area currently being investigated relates
to Mechanics of Laser-Based Freeform Fabrication
Processes, which are automated processes
for building three-dimensional parts or
features, layer-by-layer, via laser-based
deposition of metals. Professor Beuth and
his students perform analyses to predict
melt pool size and residual stress for these
processes, presenting results in the form
of "process maps" that process
development researchers can use directly.
This research is being performed with manufacturing
and materials researchers at other universities,
aerospace companies and two national laboratories.
Another area being studied by Professor
Beuth is the Adhesion of Thermal Barrier
Coatings. In this research, Dr Beuth and
his students have developed an indentation
test for measuring the interfacial toughness
of ceramic TBC systems used in gas turbines.
A critical problem in the use of these coatings
is that losses in adhesion can lead to coating
spallation. Indentation tests are being
used to directly measure the degradation
of interfacial toughness resulting from
high temperature exposures. This work is
being carried out with materials science
faculty at the University of Pittsburgh
and with researchers in the aerospace industry.
Professor Beuth is also applying indentation
and other test methods to track the Adhesion
of Oxide Scales on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Interconnect Materials. Oxidation-resistant
metallic interconnects are essential to
the development of low temperature SOFCs.
A key characteristic of oxidation-resistant
alloys is the maintenance of an adherent
oxide scale. Tests that Professor Beuth
and his students are performing with researchers
at the University of Pittsburgh will yield
an understanding of the mechanisms leading
to adherent scale formation and will allow
potential new interconnect alloys to be
rapidly evaluated. This research is being
performed with researchers at two Department
of Energy national laboratories.
Professor Beuth is also performing research
modeling the Fracture Tolerance of Anti-Corrosion
Coatings for Steels. These coatings can
crack under applied far-field strains (due
to forming of the steel sheet), degrading
their performance as an environmental barrier.
Professor Beuth and his student working
on this project are modeling the influence
of the size, shape and clustering of hard,
brittle particles in these coatings on their
resistance to cracking. This work is being
performed with researchers at the US Steel
Research and Technology Laboratory.
Professor Beuth is also working with Professor
Jonathan Wickert on an NSF-sponsored education
project to develop curriculum plans, assignments
and web-based tutorials for integrating
computer-aided engineering projects into
undergraduate Mechanical Engineering programs.
Multiple CMU ME faculty and students are
involved in this project, as well as ME
faculty at Drexel University and an industrial
software developer. The web page for this
project can be found here. |
