NIWC - Undergraduate III (Senior) - RESTORE Project (Task No 43-032862)

Overview

The hourly rate for this position is $21.52 and is non-negotiable. 

Under direction, incumbents must have course work in the discipline requested on the task order Statement of Work.

RESTORE aims to research, select, apply, analyze, characterize, and qualify promising AdvM or 3-D printing materials and manufacturing processes offered by industry. Material analysis and characterization involves developing a thorough understanding of a material's bulk physical and mechanical properties as well as its material makeup and chemical formulation. This information is critical to RESTORE's mission, as it sheds light on material and process capabilities, compatibilities, and performance as a deployed component. The diverse range of operational and field environments within the Navy and DoD requires RESTORE to ensure that deployed components and materials will operate predictably, reliably, and consistently. This can be achieved by understanding and applying chemical and materials research techniques at an undergraduate-level or above. 

 

Responsibilities

The student contractor shall provide analytical and technical support in the following areas as specified under individual task orders, to the work sponsor.

 

Materials and Mechanical Engineering: Bulk Physical and Mechanical Properties Testing, Analysis, Characterization, and Qualification Support:

• Investigate, identify, and select use cases for the replacement of rubber parts with 3-D printed elastomers aboard surface ships and submarines, as well as in shipyard and shore environments.
• Experiment with and document investigations of 3-D printing molds with rigid, high-temperature polymers for rubber and insulated component fabrication.
• Design and 3-D print polymer (rigid and elastomeric), metal, ceramic, and composite test coupons.
• Conduct and document specific operational AdvM procedures, which includes but is not limited to: polymer fused deposition modeling (FDM) and stereolithography (SLA); metal atomic diffusion additive manufacturing (ADAM) and friction stir additive manufacturing (FSAM); and composite 3-D printing such as continuous fiber addition to polymer substrates.
• Research and conduct materials and mechanical properties experiments, which includes but is not limited to modulus of elasticity, yield strength, tensile strength, ductility, toughness, fracture toughness, creep, hardness, flexural strength, fatigue tests.
• Prepare engineering drawings and schematics for components as well as testing assemblies and models via 3-D simulation in computer-aided design (CAD) software such as SolidWorks.
• Investigate and apply traditional fabrication and processing techniques for polymer, metal, ceramic, composite, and other AdvM materials.

Materials Science and Chemistry: Chemical Properties and Compatibility Testing, Analysis, Characterization, and Qualification Support:

• Investigate, identify, and select promising 3-D print material candidates (rigid and elastomer) based on material base chemistry, bulk physical properties, and 3-D printing technology.
• Design and conduct chemical experiments (such as chemical resistance, corrosion, and coating performance testing) for 3-D printed components while recording observations and collecting data.
• Conduct and document environmental resistance testing, including radiation (UV, X-ray, microwave), chemical solvent, flame, toxicity, reactivity, and oxidation (metal corrosion and polymer degradation).
• Research and conduct material surface analysis via microscopy, including optical inspection, metallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), etc.

Research and conduct molecular and material formulation analysis via spectroscopy, including ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Raman, Fourier- transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), etc. 

• Perform literature searches, compile reference materials, write technical summaries, and prepare bibliographies.

Design, Engineering, and Deployment Support:

• Assist with design, construction, and evaluation of test samples and components.
• Assist with integration and deployment of materials as end-use components.
• Assist with the development and implementation of real-world test plans to assess material testing and application procedures.

Programming, Mathematics, and Statistics: Data Analysis of Test and Simulation Results Support:

• Deploy numerical and statistical techniques for chemical and physical test results analysis with Excel spreadsheets, Python code, MATLAB code, or other computing method.
• Perform data conversion, reduction, correlation, and other statistical methods on large t