| TITLE | | Professor | 
|
| AREAS | | Solid Mechanics, Fracture Mechanics, Thermal Stress, Mechanics of Layered Materials |
| DEGREES | | B.S. 1984, Virginia Tech; M.S. 1987, Virginia Tech; M.S. 1990, Harvard University; Ph.D. 1992, Harvard University. |
| WEBPAGE | | ASME AMD Fracture and Failure Mechanics Technical Committee
|
| PHONE | | 412-268-3873 |
| FAX | | 412-268-3348 |
| EMAIL | | beuth@andrew.cmu.edu |
| ADDRESS | | Carnegie Mellon University
Mechanical Engineering
Scaife Hall 219
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213 |
Dr. Beuth's research interests are in the area of solid mechanics. Much of his work relates to his expertise in the areas of fracture mechanics and the mechanics of coatings and layered materials. His current research includes modeling and experimental work in four areas.
One area currently being investigated relates to Mechanics of Laser-Based Freeform Fabrication Processes, which are automated processes for building three-dimensional parts or features, layer-by-layer, via laser-based deposition of metals. Dr. Beuth and his students perform analyses to predict melt pool size and residual stress for these processes, presenting results in the form of "process maps" that process development researchers can use directly. This research is being performed with manufacturing and materials researchers at other universities, aerospace companies and two national laboratories.
Another area being studied by Prof. Beuth is the Adhesion of Thermal Barrier Coatings. In this research, Dr Beuth and his students have developed an indentation test for measuring the interfacial toughness of ceramic TBC systems used in gas turbines. A critical problem in the use of these coatings is that losses in adhesion can lead to coating spallation. Indentation tests are being used to directly measure the degradation of interfacial toughness resulting from high temperature exposures. This work is being carried out with materials science faculty at the University of Pittsburgh and with researchers in the aerospace industry.
Dr. Beuth is also applying indentation and other test methods to track the Adhesion of Oxide Scales on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Interconnect Materials. Oxidation-resistant metallic interconnects are essential to the development of low temperature SOFCs. A key characteristic of oxidation-resistant alloys is the maintenance of an adherent oxide scale. Tests that Dr. Beuth and his students are performing with researchers at the University of Pittsburgh will yield an understanding of the mechanisms leading to adherent scale formation and will allow potential new interconnect alloys to be rapidly evaluated. This research is being performed with researchers at two Department of Energy national laboratories.
Dr. Beuth is also performing research modeling the Fracture Tolerance of Anti-Corrosion Coatings for Steels. These coatings can crack under applied far-field strains (due to forming of the steel sheet), degrading their performance as an environmental barrier. Prof. Beuth and his student working on this project are modeling the influence of the size, shape and clustering of hard, brittle particles in these coatings on their resistance to cracking. This work is being performed with researchers at the US Steel Research and Technology Laboratory.
Prof. Beuth is also working with Prof. Jonathan Wickert on an NSF-sponsored education project to develop curriculum plans, assignments and web-based tutorials for integrating computer-aided engineering projects into undergraduate Mechanical Engineering programs. Multiple CMU ME faculty and students are involved in this project, as well as ME faculty at Drexel University and an industrial software developer. The web page for this project can be found here.
Representative Publications:
Vasinonta, A. and Beuth, J.L., "Measurement of Interfacial Toughness in Thermal Barrier Coating Systems by Indentation," Engineering Fracture Mechanics, Vol. 68, 2001, pp. 843-860.
Vasinonta, A., Beuth, J.L. and Griffith, M.L., "A Process Map for Consistent Build Conditions in the Solid Freeform Fabrication of Thin-Walled Structures," Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, Vol. 123, No. 4, 2001, pp. 615-622.
