Branch Head  -  [E-Mail]

Mission

The Multifunctional Materials Branch mission is to conduct basic and applied research on materials, components and systems to understand the interplay between the structural and functional properties of metal alloys, ceramics, polymers and composites.

Specific research areas include:

• Physically control and quantitative understand atomic scale ordering, material phases and microstructures in three dimensions for dielectric, magnetic, superconducting, structural and multifunctional materials. 
• Develop innovative materials processing, advanced joining processes, component design and prototyping solutions, and component fabrication techniques from nanoscale to bulk materials.
• Develop and apply advanced experimental and computation techniques to characterize, predict and control composition, morphology, crystallography and formation mechanisms across length scales in two and three dimensions.
• Develop predictive modeling and measurement techniques for performance and life cycle predictions with mechanical, thermal, chemical, electromagnetic, and biomechanical components, systems and environments.
• Establish the technology bases to promote rapid insertion of advanced multifunctional materials and prototypes into Navy and Marine Corps systems.
  

This research is carried out via the following approaches:

• Synthesize materials and devise experiments to investigate their mechanical and functional properties from the nanometer to macroscopic scale.
• Develop theoretical and numerical approaches to continuum mechanics to analyze and predict structural properties such as critical strength, fracture toughness, fatigue, and crack growth.
• Devise physics based models to understand the coupling of electrical, magnetic, and thermal properties to structure, in materials exhibiting piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, and shape memory behavior.
• Characterize multifunctional materials and structures under a wide range of load and drive conditions

The Multifunctional Materials Branch consists of:

Code 6350 - Branch Secretary (E-mail)

Code 6350 - Branch Technician (E-Mail)

Code 6350.1 - Branch Consultant (E-Mail)

Code 6351 - Ceramics and Rapid Prototyping Section

Code 6352 - Simulations and Imaging Section

Code 6353 - System Design and Integration Section

Code 6354 - Material Systems Development Section 

Code 6355 - Microstructural Evolution Section  (temporary link to former 6320 Branch pages)

Code 6356 - Joining and Transformation Section  (temporary link to former 6320 Branch pages)