Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research

The Joint Center of Excellence (COE) for Advanced Materials (JAMS) was established in January 2004 to assist in ensuring the safe and reliable application of com­posites and advanced materials to commercial aircraft. The Center is a joint effort of the Center of Excel­lence for Composite and Advanced Materials (CECAM) led by Wich­ita State University and the Center of Excellence for Advanced Mate­rials in Transport Aircraft Struc­tures (AMTAS) led by the Univer­sity of Washington. The COE is a leader in international coordina­tion of research, development, and standardization for structures con­structed from these new materials. The goal of this joint cen­ter is to create a cost-sharing academic, in­dustrial, and governmental part­nership. The members are forging a union between the public sector, the private sector and academic in­stitutions to create a world-class capability to identify solutions for existing and potential advanced materials and structures issues. The focus of this partnership is the research, engineering and de­velopment of information used to assure safety and standardize cer­tification of existing and emerg­ing structural applications of com­posites and advanced materials. Specifically, projects include the evaluation of past applications, performance of applied research and the development of standard engineering practices. This Joint Center of Excellence, working with industry and government, also plays an important role in technology transfer, training, and continuing education for the aircraft industry and regulators. Research Areas: • Damage Tolerance of Advanced Composite Structures • Durability of Adhesively Bonded Joints (Composite and Hybrid) • Metal & Non-Metal Based Additive Manufacturing Technologies • Crashworthiness of Composite Airframes and Seating Systems • Environmental and Aging Effects on In- Service Composite Structures • Lightning Strikes on Composite Airframes • New material systems and innovative production technologies • Maintenance and Inspection of Composite Structures

Member universities of the COE can apply.

Public Law 101-508 has established the following equally weighted six selection criteria: (1) The extent to which the needs of the State in which the applicant is located are representative of needs of the region for improved air transportation services and facilities; (2) The demonstrated research and extension resources available to the applicant for carrying out this program; (3) The capability of the applicant to provide leadership in making national and regional contributions to the solution of both long-range and immediate air transportation problems; (4) The extent to which the applicant has an established air transportation program; (5) The demonstrated ability of the applicant to disseminate results of air transportation research and educational programs through a State-wide or region-wide continuing education program; and (6) The projects which the applicant proposes to carry out under the grant. Public Law 101-508 mandates geographic equity in location and funding of Centers of Excellence. Depending on the outcome of evaluation under the six mandated criteria, geographic location may become an additional selection factor.

Matching Funds Requirements - The Federal share shall be 50 percent of the costs of establishing and operating the Center of Excellence and related research activities. Maintenance of Effort - Each recipient will maintain its aggregate expenditures from all other sources for establishing and operating the Center and related research activities at or above the average level of such expenditures in its 2 fiscal years preceding November 1990.

Fiscal year 2016: In FY 2016, the FAA plans to continue supporting the following COE topic areas: Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment; Commercial Space Transportation; General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability Research; Advanced Materials. In 2016, the FAA plans to add a new COE to support specific needs of the Air Traffic Organization in the area of Technical Training and Human Performance. In FY 2016, the FAA COE PMO supported the following topic areas: Technical Training and Human Performance; Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment; Commercial Space Transportation; General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability Research; and Advanced Materials. Fiscal year 2017: In FY 2017, the FAA COE PMO continues to support the following topic areas: Technical Training and Human Performance; Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment; Commercial Space Transportation; General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability Research; and Advanced Materials. Fiscal year 2019: In Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, the FAA COE PMO continued to support research and development in the following topic...