The AFOSR announced approximately $16.1 million in grants to 36 scientists and engineers from 27 research institutions and businesses. The objective of the program is "to foster creative basic research in science and engineering, enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators, and increase opportunities for the young investigators to recognize the Air Force Mission and the related challenges in science and engineering."
Doctor Pagan describes his research that the grant will fund, Revealing Hidden Defect Interactions in Engineering Alloys at the Microscale:
This research will use synchrotron X-ray measurements and micromechanical modeling to explore the development of defect structures in engineering alloys. The arrangement of defects into ordered structures has long been recognized as playing a critical role in determining an alloy’s deformation and failure behavior, but up to this point, there has never been a means to observe the development of these structures as they form. The goal of this research is to advance novel techniques to monitor these defects structures in-situ in order to validate computational models that will be employed to extend the life-times of components throughout the Air Force fleet. The ability to perform this research would not be possible without the in-situ measurement capabilities for structural materials being pushed forward by both the CHEXS and MSN-C programs at CHESS, which I hope to contribute to with this research.
Darren Pagan recently took a position at The Pennsylvania State University as an Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.