Engineering research in composite and smart structures

Abstract

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) supports research in composite materials and smart structures in a number of NSF Directorates. NSF funding covers such areas as engineering, materials, physics, chemistry, computer sciences, education, bio- and geo-sciences, social, behavioral and economic sciences. Since World War II, significant amounts of basic research and technology have contributed to the long-range financial well-being of the country by the development of high-tech products. In this paper, discussions of NSF research projects in composite materials and smart structures are presented. The results of this research are intended to be part of the improvement in the Civil Infrastructure System (CIS), in the “clean car” and in improved safety and reduced costs of civilian aircraft and in better quality of life for all. Most of the cited examples are related to the CIS, clean car and improved aircraft just to keep the size of the report to a manageable level. Of course, several projects are generic and typical NSF-type research that is sufficiently basic as to be of use in these projects, but also have a wider application.