Abstract:
Over the past decade, advancements in reusable launch vehicles and hypersonic vehicles have introduced unprecedented aerodynamic and thermal challenges, especially as these vehicles push toward higher Mach numbers. At elevated Mach speeds, aerodynamic compression and friction lead to high-enthalpy gas dynamics, producing intense energy exchanges in a superheated atmospheric environment. These extreme conditions make fiber-reinforced composites, carbon-carbon composites, and ultra-high-temperature ceramic composites promising material choices due to their superior high-temperature strength-to-weight ratios, which are essential for enduring the harsh environments encountered at these high speeds. Research focused on addressing challenges in the manufacturing of advanced aerospace materials has led to significant advancements in developing novel materials with enhanced properties. Efforts have addressed the complexities of high-temperature aerospace composites, improving their mechanical performance under extreme conditions. This work has expanded to the design and manufacturing of innovative composites, leveraging nanotechnologies. Current developments also include high-volume fraction (>50%) nanofiber-based polymer thin films, demonstrating unique electrical and thermal properties, such as strike protection and enhanced z-direction heating and cooling rates, enabling high-rate manufacturing. Additionally, artificial intelligence is being applied to 3D segmentation of voids and fiber breaks in composites, significantly reducing human effort. These advancements drive both the performance and manufacturability of next-generation aerospace materials.
Bio:
Dr. Carina Xiaochen Li holds a Postdoctoral Research Associate position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics. Her research focuses on the design and manufacturing of aerospace materials, including advanced composite structures and nanomaterials. Dr. Li completed her Ph.D. in High-Temperature Composites at the University of Southern California, within the M.C. Gill Composites Center. During her doctoral studies, she expanded her expertise as a Visiting Research Scientist at the IMDEA Materials Institute in Spain, concentrating on the nanoscale mechanical characterization of materials. Dr. Li has authored over 20 journal papers in leading composites journals, including Composites Part B, ACS AMI, and Composite Structures, among others. She is also an active member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the American Society for Composites (ASC). Her contributions to the field have been recognized with research awards from organizations including the ASC, SAMPE, the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and the USC Provost's Office.