Advanced Hypersonic Materials
UVA has state of the art high temperature materials and coatings expertise and capabilities for processing high temperature (refractory) metals and alloys, carbon-carbon and SiC-SiC fibrous composites. We also specialize in metal bonded ceramics and thermal spray approaches for applying coatings system. We have extensive experience with the design and fabrication of ultralight lattices and sandwich panels.
The University of Virginia has maintained a very active research program in materials for extreme environments for more than 20 years. Initially motivated by the need to introduce new materials into gas turbine engines whose combustion gas temperatures continue to rise beyond 1500 degrees-C, UVA established world-renowned expertise in high temperature materials and coatings. The research groups led by Haydn Wadley and Elizabeth Opila have developed a deep understanding of the fundamental processes by which materials and coating systems degrade and fail in hot, high-speed, reactive gas flow environments, while Patrick Hopkins has developed new tools and analysis methods for study of heat transfer in materials from nano- to macro-scales in these extreme environments. These capabilities have been complemented by Leonid Zhigilei who developed computational tools for multiscale modeling of laser-materials interactions. Sean Agnew and James Fitz-Gerald have developed an understanding of the dependence of the mechanical properties of additively (selective laser melting) manufactured alloys on their unique microstructures while Wadley has developed similar capabilities for electron beam melting approaches with titanium alloys. Ji Ma has developed a wide array of additive manufacturing and smart materials development capabilities. This laboratory houses specialized equipment for the design and manipulation of materials properties.
The convergence of new refractory metal alloys, ultra-high-temperature ceramic coatings, integrated passive cooling technology and novel leading edge architectures allows low drag hypersonic vehicles to fly faster than ever before.
Haydn Wadley
Edgar Starke Professor Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Faculty
Sean R. Agnew
Our research is focused primarily on metals analysis, including magnesium alloy formability, intermetallic behaviors, and aluminum alloy fatigue.
Jim Fitz-Gerald
Ji Ma
Ji Ma's research explores using additive manufacturing to create materials with novel properties and incorporating these materials in designed geometry to produce functionally unique parts, focusing on the additive manufacturing of metallic alloys and control of solidification, porosity, residual stress, and micro-to-nano-scale microstructure.
Elizabeth J. Opila
Our research focuses on materials for use in extreme environments and can be applied to materials for use in aircraft engines, rocket engines, energy conversion technologies, and thermal protection systems.
Leonid V. Zhigilei
Leonid Zhigilei is a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Virginia.
Haydn N. Wadley
Haydn N.G. Wadley is a professor of Materials Science and Engineering at UVA. He has interests in materials science, composite materials, micromechanics, and thermal transport. His current research explores high temperature thermal coatings systems, microarchitectured materials, entropy stabilized refractory metal alloys and rare earth silicates.