University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
The Messenger
Vol. 6, No. 1/1996
Center for Composite Materials is partner in select Army Research
Laboratory Program

     The University of Delaware Center for Composite Materials
has been selected as one of three partners in the development of
an Army Research Laboratory Materials Center of Excellence.
     The $2.7 million cooperative agreement with the University
extends through December of 1998.
     "Under this new program, the UD's Center for Composite
Materials and the Army Research Lab join forces to share
resources-and those resources include people, equipment and
knowledge-to create a cooperative environment in the best
research tradition of the University," President David Roselle
said when he announced the partnership.
     Of the two other programs, one will focus on advanced
materials characterization at Johns Hopkins University, and the
other will investigate dendrimer polymers at the Michigan
Molecular Institute.
     "This cooperative agreement with the Army is a big victory
for Delaware," said U.S. Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., who led the
efforts to bring the Army Research Laboratory and this program to
Delaware. "Selection of the University of Delaware's Center for
Composite Materials demonstrates that it is a world leader in
designing better protection systems for our soldiers using
advanced composite materials."
     Larry Johnson, director of the Army Research Laboratory
Materials Directorate, said, "The University of Delaware brings
to the table its international reputation as experts in composite
materials research. Its vast research capability, coupled with
the Army Research Laboratory's own significant capability, both
in facilities and personnel, will enable the performance of
outstanding research in support of the Army's mission.
     "One of our fundamental goals and concerns is the protection
of our soldiers on the battlefield from bullets and other types
of penetrants, as well as from the chemical agents that might be
used on the battlefield. Materials research is a key to that
protection-development of new materials, combinations of
materials and cost-effective fabrication to protect our soldiers
of the future," Johnson said. "That is why it is crucial to bring
the best minds in materials research together to focus on the
future."
     According to John W. Gillespie Jr., the center's technical
director and principal investigator of the new program, the
agreement is a "new paradigm for university/government
collaboration that combines the best attributes of both to create
an open-lab environment for University and Army researchers."
     The multidisciplinary program, which includes collaborative
research, scientific exchange and facilities sharing, initially
will involve 11 Army co-investigators, 11 UD co-investigators,
five graduate fellows, five postdoctoral fellows and 14 summer
interns, including nine undergraduate researchers. Students and
postdoctoral fellows will be co-advised by University and Army
personnel.
     "This program is very different from a typical government
grant to an academic institution," Gary Hagnauer, Army senior
research scientist, explained, "in that we expect substantial
interaction."
     The initial focus of the program will be on multifunctional
hybrid composites for integral armor. "We're aiming at optimizing
hybrid materials and processes for the special requirements of
armor-ballistic protection, damage tolerance, minimum weight,
signature management, flexibility and optical clarity/scratch
resistance, while maintaining structural integrity," Gillespie
said.
     Educational opportunities will include annual workshops and
symposia, seminars, research focus groups and joint external
seminars. Army employees will have the opportunity to participate
in the University's continuing education programs, including
Engineering Outreach and the FOCUS distance learning program.
     Collaboration also is expected among the three universities
participating.