Materials Needs and Research and Development Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems

214 Pages·2011·3.98 MB·English

by  Committee on Materials Needs and R&D Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems

Materials Needs and Research and Development Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
Materials Needs and R&D Strategy for
Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
Committee on Materials Needs and R&D Strategy
for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
National Materials and Manufacturing Board
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Materials Needs and Research and Development Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
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Materials Needs and Research and Development Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
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Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Materials Needs and Research and Development Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Materials Needs and Research and Development Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
COMMITTEE ON MATERIALS NEEDS AND R&D STRATEGY FOR
FUTURE MILITARY AEROSPACE PROPULSION SYSTEMS
GEORGE K. MUELLNER, The Boeing Company (retired), Chair
DANIEL G. BACKMAN, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
CHARLES E. BROWNING, University of Dayton
WILLIAM G. FAHRENHOLTZ, Missouri University of Science and Technology
WESLEY L. HARRIS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
S. MICHAEL HUDSON, Rolls-Royce North America Holdings (retired)
SYLVIA M. JOHNSON, NASA Ames Research Center
WILLIAM L. JOHNSON, California Institute of Technology
ERIC J. JUMPER, University of Notre Dame
ROBERT H. LATIFF, R. Latiff Associates
JUDITH SCHNEIDER, Mississippi State University
Staff
ERIK B. SVEDBERG, Study Director
RICKY D. WASHINGTON, Executive Assistant
TERI THOROWGOOD, Administrative Coordinator (until December 2009)
LAURA TOTH, Program Assistant
v
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Materials Needs and Research and Development Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
NATIONAL MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING BOARD
ROBERT H. LATIFF, R. Latiff Associates, Chair
DENISE F. SWINK, Independent Consultant, Vice Chair
PETER R. BRIDENBAUGH, Alcoa, Inc. (retired)
VALERIE BROWNING, ValTech Solutions, LLC
YET MING CHIANG, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
PAUL CITRON, Medtronic, Inc. (retired)
GEORGE T. GRAY III, Los Alamos National Laboratory
CAROL A. HANDWERKER, Purdue University
THOMAS S. HARTWICK, Independent Consultant
SUNDARESAN JAYARAMAN, Georgia Institute of Technology
DAVID W. JOHNSON, JR., Stevens Institute of Technology
TOM KING, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
MICHAEL F. McGRATH, Analytic Services, Inc.
NABIL NASR, Rochester Institute of Technology
PAUL S. PEERCY, University of Wisconsin-Madison
ROBERT C. PFAHL, JR., International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative
VINCENT J. RUSSO, Aerospace Technologies Associates, LLC
KENNETH H. SANDHAGE, Georgia Institute of Technology
ROBERT E. SCHAFRIK, GE Aviation
HAYDN WADLEY, University of Virginia
STEVEN WAX, Strategic Analysis, Inc.
Staff
DENNIS CHAMOT, Acting Director (as of April 2010)
GARY FISCHMAN, Director (until April 2010)
ERIK SVEDBERG, Senior Program Officer
RICKY D. WASHINGTON, Executive Assistant
HEATHER LOZOWSKI, Financial Associate
LAURA TOTH, Program Assistant
TERI THOROWGOOD, Administrative Coordinator (until December 2009)
vi
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Materials Needs and Research and Development Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
Preface
Significant advances in the performance and efficiency of jet and rocket propul-
sion systems are strongly dependent on the development of lighter, more durable
high-temperature materials. Materials development has been significantly reduced
in the United States since the early 1990s, when the Department of Defense (DOD),
the military services, and industry had very active materials development activities
to underpin the development of new propulsion systems. This resulted in signifi-
cant improvements in all engine characteristics and established the United States
at the leading edge of global propulsion technology.
In 2006, a study from the National Research Council (NRC) titled A Review
of United States Air Force and Department of Defense Aerospace Propulsion Needs
identified the need for technology advances in high-speed turbine engines, ram/
scramjet/pulse detonation engines, rocket propulsion, combined cycle engines, and
ultra-efficient propulsion to meet future military needs.1 Each of the identified
needs requires advances in propulsion technology, and those advances are strongly
dependent on materials development activities. The DOD, the sponsor of the pres-
ent study, thus identified the following tasks to be carried out by the present study
committee (see Appendix A for the complete statement of task):
• Examine whether current and planned U.S. research and development efforts
in materials for aerospace propulsion are sufficient (a) to meet U.S. military
needs and (b) to keep the U.S. on the leading edge of propulsion technology.
1 National Research Council. 2006. A Review of United States Air Force and Department of
Defense Aerospace Propulsion Needs. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press.
vii
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Materials Needs and Research and Development Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
viii Preface
• Consider mechanisms for the timely insertion of materials in propulsion
systems and, if necessary, how these mechanisms might be improved.
• Consider mechanisms in place that retain intellectual property (IP) securely
and how IP might be secured in future R&D programs.
• Describe the general elements of an R&D strategy to develop materials for
future military aerospace propulsion systems.
To accomplish this study, the National Research Council established the Com-
mittee on Military Needs and R&D Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Pro-
pulsion Systems (see Appendix C for biographies of the committee members).
The committee visited and received presentations from the sponsor, government
research agencies, major propulsion companies, university researchers, and the
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Materials Technical Com-
mittee, which covers the propulsion and materials science domains.
In addition, the committee was provided the document titled Materials for
Advanced Aerospace Propulsion and Power Systems (AFRL-RZ-WP-TM-2008-2171).
Restricted by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), that document
contains the current plan for materials development within the Air Force Research
Laboratory (AFRL) and was used as the baseline for current planned R&D efforts
within the DOD. Owing to the restricted nature of that AFRL baseline document, the
committee’s specific assessment of current and planned U.S. R&D efforts in mate rials
for aerospace propulsion is presented in an ITAR-restricted appendix (Appendix D),
the text of which is not releasable to the public.
My personal thanks go to all of the members of the committee for their
commitment of considerable time and energy. I am particularly grateful to Mike
Hudson, Eric Jumper, Bob Latiff, Wesley Harris, and Sylvia Johnson for leading
major segments of the study. The committee is also very grateful to Erik Svedberg,
the study director, and to Teri Thorowgood, the administrative coordinator until
December 2009, for guiding us through the study process. Erik Svedberg not only
steered the committee but also provided valuable research contributions.
The committee hopes that this report will increase the efficiency, level of
effort, and impact of DOD materials development activities. Budgetary restric-
tions demand increased collaboration and focus, as significant improvements in
the performance and efficiency of U.S. military aerospace propulsion systems are
both possible and needed.
George K. Muellner, Chair
Committee on Materials Needs and R&D Strategy
for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Materials Needs and Research and Development Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
Acknowledgments
This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their
diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures ap-
proved by the National Research Council’s (NRC’s) Report Review Committee. The
purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that
will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to
ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and
responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript
remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to
thank the following individuals for their review of this report:
Meyer J. Benzakein, Ohio State University,
Dianne Chong, The Boeing Company,
David E. Crow, University of Connecticut,
Alan Epstein, Pratt & Whitney,
Diana Farkas, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
Bernard L. Koff, Pratt & Whitney (retired),
James E. McGrath, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
Carolyn W. Meyers, Norfolk State University, and
Charles F. Tiffany, The Boeing Company (retired).
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive com-
ments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recom-
mendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The
ix
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Materials Needs and Research and Development Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems
x acknowledgments
review of this report was overseen by Hyla Napadensky, retired vice president,
Napadensky Energetics, Inc. Appointed by the NRC, she was responsible for making
certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accor-
dance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully
considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the
authoring committee and the institution.
The committee also thanks its guest speakers, who added to the members’
under standing of the materials issues related to future aerospace propulsion systems:
Joni Arnold, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL),
Drew DeGeorge, Edwards Air Force Base,
Kenneth Eickmann, University of Texas at Austin,
Joan Fuller, Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR),
William Hack, AFRL,
John Halchak, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne,
Dallis Hardwick, AFRL,
Clay Haubert, GE Aviation,
Joseph Koo, University of Texas at Austin,
Ajay Misra, NASA Glenn Research Center,
Francis Preli, Pratt & Whitney,
Tom Russel1, AFOSR,
David Schifler, Office of Naval Research,
Jack Schirra, Pratt & Whitney,
Charlie Stevens, AFRL,
Kathy Stevens, AFRL,
Art Temmesfeld, AFRL,
Malcolm Thomas, Rolls-Royce Group, and
Charles Ward, AFRL.
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.