Institute's Work Keeps Planes Flying Longer
Director Rajarshi Banerjee and colleagues at the Institute for Science and Engineering Simulation at the University of North Texas are conducting research exclusively for the U.S. Air Force.
Costly maintenance done on U.S. Air Force jets may become less expensive because of research taking place at the Institute for Science and Engineering Simulation at the University of North Texas. Located in Denton, Texas, the institute works exclusively on research for the U.S. Air Force and has been funded through 2012 by about $8 million from the Air Force Research Laboratory, according to UNT.
The university's Alex Cheatham reported that Banerjee, the principal investigator, is working with co-principal investigators Alan Needleman, Angela Wilson, and Thomas Sharf and with students on the research, which they hope will extend the lifespan of aircraft and prevent USAF aircraft from breaking down.
"There are some critical issues within the U.S. Air Force on maintaining aircrafts," Banerjee said, according to Cheatham's report. "The aircraft are facing lots of problems with their engines and structural materials."
The research looks at aircraft components and structure, with the investigators trying to devise materials and test hybrid materials that offer better performance. Two other UNT units, the Center for Advanced Research and Technology and the Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Modeling, are involved in the work, according to the report.