FROM BLOCKING RADIATION TO STOPPING SPEEDING BULLETS

Stella Bondi, assistant professor of engineering technology, describes her current research into optimization of materials in somewhat unique terms.

"We are searching for the best sandwich," she says.

Utilizing a $20,000 seed grant from the Virginia Space Consortium and ODU's Batten College of Engineering and Technology, Bondi is conducting experiments to determine what combination of materials works best at providing durable, yet lightweight, protection for a variety of structures on earth and in space.

That "sandwich-making," for example, has involved visiting cancer treatment laboratories after hours to test material combinations for radiation-blocking potential. In another facet of the research, Bondi is determining blast-resistance by shooting guns as part of a rigorous series of tests designed to see how various composite materials react to different stressors.

Bondi and a team of eight graduate students are looking to identify the mechanical properties of various material combinations for strength, stress/strain and torsion. In addition to radiation blocking and ballistic impact, materials are being tested for vibration and fire resistance.

The goal is to use fiber-reinforced polymers and other composites to demonstrate the benefits of radiation blocking in space, or for minimizing payload for construction materials, and use of construction resources.

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