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

Summary

The National Research Council will convene a committee to (1) identify the science opportunities that have arisen from recent advances and accomplishments in the field of fundamental corrosion research and that will advance scientific understanding of the mechanisms of corrosion processes, materials degradation, and their mitigation; (2) prioritize a set of research grand-challenge questions to fill identified scientific gaps; and (3) make recommendations on a national strategy in fundamental corrosion research with the goal of gaining the critical understanding of (a) materials degradation and (b) mitigating technologies. The strategy should also include recommendations on how to maximize the dissemination of the outcomes of corrosion research to maximize their incorporation into corrosion mitigation.

Background

The ongoing development of military aerospace platforms requires continuous technology improvements to successfully operate in hostile environments as well as countering improved surveillance and interception. Improved enemy capabilities demand continued improvement in U.S. vehicle capabilities to maneuver successfully and safely through hostile environments. In 2006 the National Research Council's Air Force Studies Board (AFSB) report, A Review of United States Air Force and Department of Defense Aerospace Propulsion concluded that airplane propulsion systems designed to approach Mach 5 will require the development of materials technology solutions that are as yet unavailable. A related 2006 AFSB report Future Air Force Needs for Survivability describes challenges to improving propulsion and signature, or stealth, that are materials intensive and must be addressed if the Air Force, and the other services by extension, is to move forward towards the development of high Mach manned or unmanned air vehicles.

The propulsion needs report concluded that "Additional emphasis must be placed on propulsion research or the technological lead of the United States will almost certainly cease to exist." It also concluded that the way forward for the materials technology development base is still not fully defined and that top priority should be given to overcoming the technology barriers that will have the largest impact on future weapons systems. These barriers include: Compressor discharge temperature limits, Turbine inlet temperature limits, High-temperature, high-heatsink fuels for thermal management, Lightweight structures, and Signature control.

It is noteworthy that the study will be executed following the release by the Office of Science and Technology Policy of the White House of a plan for national aeronautics research and development (R&D) and related infrastructure.3 Within the plan, among the R&D goals linked to military application are: Demonstrate reduced gas turbine specific fuel consumption; demonstrate increased power generation and thermal management capacity for aircraft; and demonstrate sustained, controlled, hypersonic flight.

The technology challenges in developing future military aerospace propulsion systems are materials challenges. Overcoming these challenges will require focus on a systematic materials approach and materials R&D specific to the needs of the subsystem involved. Such considerations would include: Materials for atmospheric propulsion systems, both air-breathing and alternate systems, Materials for space propulsion systems, Materials for alternative fuel engines, Materials for the development of lightweight and multifunctional systems, Materials methodologies for stealthier (signature controlled) systems; and Strategies to coordinate the development of materials, composites and interactive materials systems that will work together to create an effective and efficient multifunctional materials palette. These materials issues will require new R&D directions to be undertaken by the Department of Defense and in that context the NRC will conduct this study to assess the needs and directions for a national materials research and development (R&D) strategy to respond to the challenge of developing materials for future military aerospace propulsion systems.

Study Plan

The committee will:

1. Examine whether current and planned U.S. R&D 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.
2. Consider mechanisms for the timely insertion of materials in propulsion systems and, if necessary, how these mechanisms might be improved.
3. Consider mechanisms in place that retain intellectual property (IP) securely and how IP might be secured in future R&D programs.
4. Describe the general elements of a R&D strategy to develop materials for future military aerospace propulsion systems.

The committee will consider both air breathing and self contained fuel/oxidizer systems including scramjet capabilities and take account of: (a) fuel-efficiency and materials-technology challenges at both subsonic and supersonic (up to Mach 5); (b) findings and recommendations in the recent NRC report entitled A Review of United States Air Force and Department of Defense Aerospace Propulsion Needs issued in 2006; (c) the impact of current non-U.S. investments in propulsion materials technologies; (d) the lead time for insertion of new materials into aerospace propulsion technologies and what would it take to shorten the timeline, if it is too long and (e) the evolution of U.S. R&D on materials for aerospace propulsion with due consideration of:

• Historic funding levels;
• Government agencies involved;
• Government investments (for both defense and civil applications) and industrial investments in propulsion R&D; and - Outside drivers such as non-defense and non-NASA investments and needs.

Membership

• George K. Muellner, Air Force Systems for Integrated Defense Systems (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, Massachusettes Institute of Technology
• S. Michael Hudson, Rolls-Royce of North America (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, Science Applications Intellectual Corporation (SAIC)
• Judith Schneider, Mississippi State University

The biographies of the committee can be viewed at the NRC Current Projects System.

Meetings

Meeting dates for the Committee on Materials Needs and R&D Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems are shown below. Information on the agendas is available on the NRC’s Current Projects System.

First Meeting - January 29-30, 2009 - Beckman Center, Irvine, CA

Second Meeting - March 23-24, 2009 - Beckman Center, Irvine, CA

Third Meeting - July 20-22, 2009 - Keck Center, Washington, DC

Fourth Meeting - October 14-15, 2009 - Jonsson Center, Woods Hole MA

Fifth Meeting - December 16-17, 2009 - Beckman Center, Irvine, Ca

For further information e-mail propulsion@nas.edu.

Download Presentations

January 29-30, 2009 Meeting
March 23-24, 2009 Meeting
July 20-22, 2009 Meeting
 

Community Input

This committee is actively pursuing community comments and feedback. Please consider submitting your thoughts to the committee in the following way:

By e-mail: Send comments directly to the committee at propulsion@nas.edu. Please bear in mind that all information submitted to the committee in writing will be made publicly available.

National Academies Propulsion Study Community Town Hall Meeting

The Propulsion study held a a town hall meeting at the TMS meeting in San Francisco on February 18. The town meeting provided the research community an opportunity to hear about the project, meet with panel members, and give input and perspective to the study.

Staff

Erik Svedberg, Program Officer
Teri Thorowgood, Administrative Coordinator
National Materials Advisory Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Keck WS 938
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: (202) 334-3505
Fax: (202) 334-3718
E-mail: propulsion@nas.edu

Presentations
January 29-30, 2009
Beckman Center, Irvine, CA

Charles Ward 
 
John Halchak 
 
Kenneth Eickmann  
 
Clay Haubert

Presentations
March 23-24, 2009
Beckman Center, Irvine, Ca

Joseph Koo

Ajay Misra 
 
Art Temmesfeld
 
Malcolm Thomas
 
Charles Stevens 
 
Francis Preli
 

Presentations
July 20-22, 2009
Keck Center, Washington, DC

David Shifler
 
Dallis Hardwick

Jack Schirra

Drew McGeorge