Analytical and Computational Research Tools Advanced Materials and Structures

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists. The primary focus of this opportunity is to perform analytical and computational research in the Structures and Materials Division at NASA Langley Research Center to improve the understanding of failure and fracture in advanced aerospace materials and advance progressive damage analysis methods.

• Conduct analytical and computational research in the Durability, Damage Tolerance, and Reliability Branch (DDTRB).
• Develop numerical tools for simulating multiple interacting damage processes (matrix cracking, delamination, fiber failure) across a range of advanced aerospace materials.
• Apply computational fracture mechanics and progressive damage analysis methods to both quasi‑static and fatigue loading cases.
• Incorporate developed tools into commercial finite element codes for use in certification processes.
• Explore novel joining and consolidation methods for composite materials and develop new composite material systems and processing methods that enhance performance, durability, and processability.

• Doctoral degree (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
• Experience with finite element analysis software packages such as Abaqus.
• Programming experience in languages used for custom user subroutines in FE software (e.g., FORTRAN).
• Experience with scripting languages such as Python or MATLAB.

• U.S. Citizen Only.
• Doctoral Degree.

Frank Leone – frank.a.leone –

Andrew Bergan – andrew.c.bergan –

Tyler Hudson – tyler.b.hudson –

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp