Materials Integrity

The Materials Integrity group performs research and development in the deformation, damage, and failure of engineering materials, while providing services emphasizing the structural integrity of engineering components and structures. Section staff are expert in the analytical and experimental characterization of numerous material and structural damage mechanisms including fatigue, creep, corrosion, and fracture. The section integrates the perspectives of applied mechanics and materials science to solve practical multidisciplinary problems for a wide range of clients and materials systems.  Many activities emphasize life prediction and life management methods for engineering hardware, including reliability and risk assessment. Technology transfer to clients includes guidelines, software, action plans, and problem solving.

To learn more about integrity and reliability software at SwRI, visit integrityandreliability.swri.org.

R. Craig McClung, Ph.D., Program Director

Technical strengths and contacts in the section include:

• Fatigue and fatigue crack growth analysis and life prediction
  R. Craig McClung, Ph.D. or Stephen J. Hudak Jr., Ph.D.
  
  
• NASGRO fracture mechanics computer code
  R. Craig McClung, Ph.D. or Joseph W. Cardinal
  
  
• Fracture mechanics, creep-fatigue, and life prediction
  G. Graham Chell, Ph.D.
  
  
• FlawPRO engineering critical assessment software for reeled and conventionally installed pipes
  G. Graham Chell, Ph.D.
   
• Analysis and testing of crack growth in polymers; plastic pipeline integrity
  Carl Popelar
  
  
• Materials testing in harsh environments and creep testing
  Victor D. Aaron
  
  
• Pressure vessel integrity, including nuclear, petrochemical, submarine, and natural gas vehicle industries
  Stephen J. Hudak Jr., Ph.D. or G. Graham Chell, Ph.D.
  
  
• Aircraft- and land-based gas turbine materials and coatings
  Sastry Cheruvu, Ph.D.
  
  
• Steam turbine materials, remaining life assessment, and failure analysis
  Sastry Cheruvu, Ph.D.
  
  
• Mechanical behavior, material modeling, and constitutive equations
  Kwai S. Chan, Ph.D.

Division Publications

Materials Engineering Department
Mechanical Engineering Division
SwRI Home

March 25, 2013