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MEDE CRA advances armor materials development

The Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments Collaborative Research Alliance (MEDE CRA), a basic research program led by Johns Hopkins University, recently culminated its 10-year program.  By developing a materials-by-design strategy, the research completed within MEDE CRA has resulted in innovative protection materials and computational design codes for armor applications. The program has also had significant impact in the materials science community through professional development and publications.

The program, sponsored by the U.S. Army, includes a consortium of 25 university and research partners located in 13 states and three foreign countries.  Its success can be attributed to a focus on the three key elements of a basic research program: relevance, team, and science.

According to Dr. Sikhanda Satapathy, the Cooperative Agreement Manager at U.S. Army Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL), the goal of the program was to look at the materials or different material classes at different scales, starting from the atomistic scale to the application scale. To achieve this, the MEDE program developed a rigorous mechanism-driven materials-by-design strategy that resulted in new magnesium alloys, boron carbide, and glass-epoxy composites.

In each material, MEDE was able to achieve a weight reduction and improved performance. These discoveries were translated into computational design codes which assisted in validating the experimental data. Industry partners were able to scale-up the laboratory produced materials for ballistic evaluation at DEVCOM ARL.

A hallmark of the MEDE CRA is its impact on workforce development. Including the university faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows, and DEVCOM ARL researchers, over 600 individuals have been involved in the MEDE research. These individuals include high school and undergraduate student apprentices sponsored through DEVCOM’s Army Educational Outreach Program, and the Army Research Office’s partnered research initiative for HBCUs and minority serving institutions. The MEDE CRA ensured these valuable opportunities were incorporated into the core research program.

The impact of MEDE to the broader science community will be felt for years. To date, MEDE university personnel and DEVCOM ARL researchers have authored 478 peer-reviewed journal articles. These articles have been cited over 8,000 times. To ensure the legacy of the MEDE CRA, special edition journals featuring MEDE research have been published.

Lori Graham-Brady, director of CMEDE and professor at Johns Hopkins, expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Army for sponsoring the MEDE CRA. Johns Hopkins’ partnership with the Department of Defense was seeded in 1940 with the creation of the National Defense Research Committee. MEDE’s innovations will continue to shape the future of the government-university research through the doctoral students and postdocs now working in DOD and national laboratories, academia and global industry.

View more information about the successes of MEDE CRA in this video.

MEDE CRA completes 10-year program to advance armor materials with capstone event

The Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments Collaborative Research Alliance (MEDE CRA) culminated its 10-year program with a virtual capstone event, co-hosted by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL) and Johns Hopkins University. More than 180 people participated in the event, including principal investigators and students from consortium universities, Army researchers and industry partners. Representatives from U.S. Army Futures Command, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, Office of Naval Research, National Ground Intelligence Center, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and other DEVCOM subordinate organizations participated as well.

The MEDE CRA is a basic research program led by Johns Hopkins University. The program includes a consortium of 25 university and research partners located in 13 states and three foreign countries. MEDE has developed a materials-by-design strategy, which has resulted in innovative protection materials and computational design codes for armor applications. These new concepts will support the Soldier Lethality and Next Generation Combat Vehicle modernization priorities. According to DEVCOM ARL Dr. Patrick Baker, MEDE successfully achieved its mission by focusing on the three key elements of a basic research program: relevance, team, and science.

Maj. Gen. Edmond “Miles” Brown, DEVCOM commanding general, highlighted the capstone with a keynote address. He described a multinational force that was attacked while on patrol during a deployment to Afghanistan. The body armor they wore provided the necessary protection to survive the attack and make it back home safely. Additionally, Brown described the evolution of body armor from the time he entered the U.S. Army to present day, and the importance of basic research programs like the MEDE CRA.

Sen. Ben Cardin and Sen. Christopher Van Hollen of Maryland expressed their congratulations to the MEDE CRA. Cardin noted that MEDE has graduated 76 PhD students and transitioned 55 postdoctoral fellows. More than 200 undergraduates participated in research activities; 62 of whom were from HBCUs and minority serving institutions. This highlights the program’s real dedication to inclusivity and diversity, he said. Van Hollen added that MEDE will help save American lives and keep troops safer for years to come.

Officials said a hallmark of the MEDE CRA is its impact on workforce development. Including the university faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows, and DEVCOM ARL researchers, over 600 individuals have been involved in the MEDE research. These individuals include high school and undergraduate student apprentices sponsored through DEVCOM’s Army Educational Outreach Program, and the Army Research Office’s partnered research initiative for HBCUs and minority serving institutions. The MEDE CRA ensured these valuable opportunities were incorporated into the core research program.

Prof. Lori Graham-Brady of Johns Hopkins and Dr. Sikhanda Satapathy for DEVCOM ARL presented the numerous accomplishments of the MEDE CRA. According to Dr. Satapathy, the goal of the program was to look at the materials or different material classes at different scales, starting from the atomistic scale to the application scale. To achieve this, the MEDE program developed a rigorous mechanism-driven materials-by-design strategy that resulted in new magnesium alloys, boron carbide, and glass-epoxy composites.

In each material, MEDE was able to achieve a weight reduction and improved performance. These discoveries were translated into computational design codes which assisted in validating the experimental data. Industry partners were able to scale-up the laboratory produced materials for ballistic evaluation at DEVCOM ARL.

Graham-Brady said by improving these armor materials they will have a real impact on keeping people safe, which, she said, motivated much of the research.

The capstone included a MEDE CRA video, which provided an overview and successes of the program.

The impact of MEDE to the broader science community will be felt for years, Graham-Brady said. To date, MEDE university personnel and DEVCOM ARL researchers have authored 478 peer-reviewed journal articles. These articles have been cited over 8,000 times. To ensure the legacy of the MEDE CRA, special edition journals featuring MEDE research have been published.

Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Army for sponsoring the MEDE CRA. Johns Hopkins’ partnership with the Department of Defense was seeded in 1940 with the creation of the National Defense Research Committee. MEDE’s innovations will continue to shape the future of the government-university research through the doctoral students and postdocs now working in DOD and national laboratories, academia and global industry.

MEDE CRA Completes 10th Annual Fall Meeting

The Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments Collaborative Research Alliance (MEDE CRA) conducted its tenth and final Fall Meeting on November 17th, 2021. As the lead research organization of the CRA, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) hosts the event. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this event was held using a virtual format.

The Fall Meeting brings the entire MEDE CRA together for a program overview and technical discussions in preparation for the January 2022 capstone event. This year’s Fall Meeting was attended by 117 individuals including special guests from the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (ARL), DEVCOM Soldier Center, United Kingdom’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Command,  and the National Ground Intelligence Center. Professor Lori Graham-Brady (JHU) and Dr. Sikhanda Satapathy (ARL) led the meeting, which highlighted the research accomplishments for new metallic, ceramic, and composite protection materials, as well as new computational design codes and tools for armor applications. Dr. Scott Schoenfeld, ARL’s Senior Research Scientist for Terminal Ballistics provided keynote remarks. The meeting also featured a virtual poster session with 41 presenters from across the MEDE CRA.

The MEDE CRA is an integral part of the ARL’s Enterprise for Multiscale Research of Materials. The objective of the MEDE CRA is to develop the capability to design, optimize, and fabricate material systems exhibiting revolutionary performance in extreme dynamic environments. The approach is to realize a mechanism-based, “materials-by-design” capability that focuses on advancing the fundamental understanding of materials in relevant high-strain-rate and high-stress regimes. Model materials in the areas of metals, ceramics, and composites are being investigated to improve protection for soldiers and vehicles.

CMEDE Partners with CoorsTek to Fabricate Armor Materials

The Center for Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments (CMEDE) has partnered with CoorsTek, a manufacturer of technical ceramics, to develop advanced ceramic materials for military armor applications.

Due to its potential for improvements in ballistic performance for soldier protection at very low weight, boron carbide was studied as a model material in CMEDE.  CMEDE researchers worked in close collaboration with researchers at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and Rutgers University to enhance our understanding of boron carbide in order to develop new formulations and processing routes for this material. These new formulations have shown significant improvements in key properties like hardness, strength, and toughness. Partnering with CoorsTek allowed CMEDE to scale-up from creating laboratory-sized specimens to industrial-sized plates.

Prof. Lori Graham-Brady, director of CMEDE, says this partnership is critical.  “The partnership between CMEDE and CoorsTek demonstrates a major transition. With the ability to create and test new materials at a large scale, we can further improve upon ceramic materials that will protect our military and save soldiers’ lives.”

U.S. Army soldier in tan and green fatigues holding ceramic plate used in body armor

Ryan Hurley (JHU) receives Mentor of the Year award from the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program

Ryan Hurley, CMEDE PI and assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has received the annual Mentor of the Year award from the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP).

The award is presented to a mentor within one of the AEOP apprenticeship programs who goes beyond the call of duty to support students in their STEM educations and career pursuits. Hurley has been recognized for his dedication to challenging his students to “think and work like engineers. [During a remote apprenticeship, he] went above and beyond to overcome the challenges and make it a positive, transformative experience for his mentees. In addition to being dedicated to the growth and development of his mentees, he has sought to spread the word about AEOP and encourage other scientists and engineers to become mentors as well.” View the full award ceremony.

Hurley was selected from over 450 mentors from U.S. Army research laboratories, centers, and universities across the United States who hosted AEOP apprentices in 2020. He mentored a student who expanded his Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments (MEDE) ceramic materials research.  The student employed machine learning to investigate particle micromechanics in granular materials and develop a model to predict particle rearrangements.  Due to COVID-19, the apprenticeship was conducted remotely.

Hurley’s research group develops and uses novel experiments and numerical models to study the mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of granular materials, rocks, concrete, and ceramics. His group is a frequent user of synchrotron X-ray facilities around the world, at which they seek to see and understand deformation mechanisms in materials at the smallest length and time scales.

The AEOP is run by the U.S. Army and aims to provide students and teachers with STEM programs to promote STEM subjects and nurture STEM talents from kindergarten through college. Learn more about AEOP and its programs.

Ryan Hurley AEOP Mentor of the Year Award 2021

Prof. Lori Graham-Brady Appointed Director of CMEDE

Congratulations to Professor Lori Graham-Brady, associate director of  the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute (HEMI) and chair of the Department of Civil and Systems Engineering, for her appointment as director of the Center for Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments (CMEDE)! Previously the associate director of the center, she assumes the duties performed by Professor K. T. Ramesh, who will now serve as associate director.

Graham-Brady is Department Chair and a professor in the Civil Engineering Department at Johns Hopkins University, with a secondary appointment in Mechanical Engineering. She is a is a leading global researcher in the field of computational stochastic mechanics, multiscale modeling of materials with random microstructure, and the mechanics of failure under high-rate loading. She has been an active member within both the Ceramics and Composites Collaborative Materials Research Groups within CMEDE. Graham-Brady is Director of an NSF-funded IGERT training program with the theme of Modeling Complex Systems. She has received a number of awards, including the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, and the William H. Huggins Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Learn more about CMEDE’s leadership here.

2020 CMEDE Highlights Showcases Research and Collaboration Within the Program

The Center for Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments is pleased to release the CMEDE Highlights for 2020. This piece illustrates the unique aspects of the center’s activities, recaps  significant events, and showcases a small sampling of the programs and people within each of the center’s materials research groups (ceramics, composites, and metals). 2020 has been a tumultuous year, but these accomplishments have broad and deep impacts on the center’s scientific and technological capabilities and allow the people involved to developing a new workforce educated in the up-and-coming possibilities of materials-by-design. CMEDE is positive that the advances being made by the program in the science and the workforce will have great impact on the protection of military personnel and vehicles.

Click here to learn more about how CMEDE has adapted throughout the past year and the research that is helping create better protection materials for the U.S. Army.

 

2020 Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP) Application Period Open

For the fourth year in a row, the MEDE CRA has been awarded Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP) internships.  URAP internships are sponsored by the Army Research Office and is a part of the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP).

URAP will provide eligible students an opportunity to participate in a paid research internship.  The stipend is $15/hour for up to 300 hours.  The internships will be held during the summer of 2020 and under the guidance of a MEDE principal investigator (PI).

Detailed information on the AEOP URAP program and student eligibility is available here.

Interested students can apply here. Students should select the “U266-university name” in the on-line application for the MEDE CRA.

As part of the application process, a recommendation from a MEDE PI agreeing to host the applicant is required.  Interested students can find the names of the MEDE PIs on the CMEDE research webpage.  The recommendation can be a simple letter or email and should be sent to Dr. Victor Nakano ([email protected]).

The application deadline is February 29, 2020.

MEDE-MSA Research Fellowship Application Period Opens

The United States Army Combat Capabilities Command’s Army Research Laboratory (CCDC ARL) and the United Kingdom’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) maintain a strong international partnership which fosters research collaborations between the two countries. Two major materials programs focused on defense applications are the Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments (MEDE) funded by the ARL, and the Materials for Strategic Advantage (MSA) funded by DSTL.

The Center for Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments is pleased to announce the MEDE – MSA research fellowship. This fellowship is only open to graduate students or postdocs funded on MEDE whose principal faculty advisor is a current MEDE principal investigator (PI). This research fellowship will enable current MEDE graduate students or postdocs the opportunity to participate in research activities at a university in the United Kingdom (UK). The fellowship will provide $6,000 (US) to support travel, housing and incidental costs. It is expected that the fellowship will be approximately eight weeks in duration, mostly likely during the summer months in 2020.

Before applying, the graduate student/postdoc and their MEDE PI should contact a prospective faculty member at a university located in the UK to coordinate the fellowship research focus and logistics. The intent of this fellowship is to provide a broadening experience and to foster research collaborations.

Interested graduate students and postdocs should submit an application which includes:

  1. Current curriculum vitae of applicant;
  2. Description of the planned research activities;
  3. Name and contact information of the current MEDE PI;
  4. Name and contact information of the proposed faculty member at a university located in the UK;
  5. Proposed dates of the fellowship;
  6. A statement that acknowledges the faculty member at the UK university has agreed to host the applicant;
  7. Personal statement on how this fellowship will benefit and broaden their research.

Application materials should be sent as a single pdf file to Dr. Victor Nakano ([email protected]). The deadline to submit the application materials is Friday, March 27, 2020. The selected applicant will be expected to present a poster of their experience at the 2020 MEDE Fall Meeting and/or appropriate CMRG meeting.

Administrative notes: If selected, it is the applicant’s responsibility to coordinate travel and lodging with faculty member host at the UK university. Funding for this fellowship will be subawarded to the applicant’s home MEDE university, under the applicant’s MEDE PI. The funding covers travel, housing and incidentals. Graduate student stipend or postdoc salary will be supported by the MEDE PI on their respective MEDE task budget.