What is the CMMS? The Composite Materials, Manufacture and Structures Laboratory (CMMS) at Colorado State University was initiated in the fall of 1989 to address research and educational issues related to composite materials. The Lab moved from the Engineering Research Center to the new Motorsport Engineering Research Center in the summer of 2004. CMMS houses equipment to model composites manufacturing processes as well as to perform mechanical testing and microstructural analysis. The focus of the research efforts can be broken into broad categories including process development, shape and warpage control, and materials response simulation. These varied research topics have allowed both graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to pursue education and research in the field of composite materials. By maintaining research projects in various areas of the composites field the students in the Composite Materials, Manufacture and Structures Laboratory have gained a greater appreciation for this broad field of engineering. Further, by encouraging undergraduates to work on CMMS research projects, and on undergraduate design projects, a significant new experience has been made available. This student involvement has been most apparent during the fabrication of three all-composite solar cars during the early 1990's and more recently a series of composite monocoques for student Formula SAE racecars. More than 30 undergraduates gain substantial hands-on experience in composites each year. CMMS Director, Dr. D.W. Radford Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering Phone: (970) 491-8677 E-Mail: don@engr.colostate.edu	Advanced Composite Materials Research at CSU CMMS AT A GLANCE Fabrication Equipment Autoclave - 15" x 15" x 36" - 100 psi/350°F cures. 3-axis filament winder, 6"dia. x 30"long mandrel. Low pressure CVD to 1250°C with pulsed flow. 20ton hot press capable of 425°C processing. Injection molding (up to 30ton) Test Equipment 10,000 lb load frame with environmental chamber capable of temperatures from 150°C to +425°C. Hydraulic Instron frame for dynamic materials testing. Seiko DSC, DTA/TGA, TMA-SS thermal analysis. Olympus PME-3 metallograph to 2000X, with polarized light. Leitz ERGOLUX microscope with bright field/dark field illumination. Computer image analysis on both microscopes. High cycle impact fatigue test apparatus. (11/sec) Creep test apparatus. Services Available Mechanical testing - test temperatures from -150°C to +425°C. Component failure analysis. Metallographic specimen preparation and analysis of composites. "Image Analysis" of metallographic specimens or images. Thermal Analysis (DSC, DTA/TGA, TMA) of materials. Design of composite components. Redesign of components for fabrication in composite materials. Development of composite manufacturing processes and process parameters. This page has been visited times.
	Mechanical Engineering, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1374