October 7, 2024-Carissa Russell, Materials Sciences LLC

October 7,  2024
4:00 p.m.
Room:  Torgersen Hall 2150
Speaker:  Carissa Russell, Materials Sciences LLC
Faculty Host: Dr. Yao Fu

"Emerging Materials and Practical Limitations that Prevent Widespread Adoption on High Speed Vehicles"

Abstract: To maintain national security with the pacing threat from our most capable adversaries, there is urgent need to achieve more precise, longer range tactical needs. Increasing the range and speed of tactical structures, requires advanced material solutions and thermal management. MSC has been working on applied research addressing technical gaps for emerging long range weapon systems through enabling materials and practical manufacturing in terms of cost and leadtime. There is a critical need to expand the design space with resilient refractory alloys, composites and ceramics. The challenging environment and structural requirements open up opportunities for a new class of hybrid structures via a combination of materials and complex design solutions using advanced processing techniques. This seminar will summarize emerging materials and the technical challenges that prevent widespread implementation on current vehicles and structures.

Bio:  Carissa Russell has worked in the development of advanced material solutions, high temperature enabling materials and fabrication methods for 15 years. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2010 with a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis on advanced carbon materials for thermal and electrical enhancements to composites. Carissa received the Science, Mathematics, & Research for Transformation (SMART) fellowship to complete her Masters and was chosen to begin her career as a Civilian Mechanical Engineer for the Army Aviation and Missiles Structures Directorate of the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command, Aviation and Missile Center (DEVCOM AvMC). In her time there she authored many papers and presented at conferences on thermal management efforts for tactical missile airframes- concluding in a patent incorporating thermal management techniques into composite structures. Now, as the Director of Engineering at MSC for the Research & Development group, she leads many Army S&T programs in response to the Army's need for increasing the knowledge and understanding of processing, fabrication and behavior of high temperature materials at an affordable cost structure. She is integral to MSC's effort to create an Advanced Manufacturing Design and Prototyping Center in Huntsville, AL.