2018-2020 Assessment of the Army Research Office (2021) / Chapter Skim
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14 Mechanical Sciences Division
14 Mechanical Sciences Division
Pages 111-123
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From page 111... ...
COMPLEX DYNAMICS AND SYSTEMS PROGRAM The vision of the Complex Dynamics and Systems Program is to develop novel analytic and algorithmic methodologies for exploiting the interactions by which high-dimensional dynamical systems store, dissipate, predict, and shape information and energy in dynamically changing environments. This program's research strategy is to address the following three key scientific questions: (1)
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From page 112... ...
Significant Accomplishments The Complex Dynamics and Systems Program is the biggest of those in the Mechanical Sciences Division, having an FY 2019 budget of about 31 percent of the total and per-project funding of about 127 percent of the division average. Peer-reviewed publications at about 1.3 per project-year and graduate student-postdoctoral support of about 1.1 per project-year are each modest.
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From page 113... ...
This program's research strategy is to address the following two key scientific questions: (1) How do grain-scale features influence bulk properties in unconsolidated earth materials?
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From page 114... ...
The currently proposed directions of the program are largely in continuation of the successful and productive direction of the current program -- understanding the complex response of multi-phase materials, across the scales and with specific application to earth-water-atmosphere interactions -- a very broad suite of potential disciplines. Proposed extensions to this are to tailor the large-scale interactions of earth-water-atmosphere to include implications for the built environment and to explore controls on information transmission in challenging environments via seismic acoustic and electromagnetic signals.
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From page 115... ...
There are clear and close linkages of the Earth Materials and Processes Program with the Solid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics Programs and potentially with the Complex Dynamics and Systems Program. FLUID DYNAMICS PROGRAM The vision of the Fluid Dynamics Program is to develop frameworks for understanding and exploitation of nonlinear flow interactions.
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From page 116... ...
A suitable research opportunity may exist in the area of compressible flow turbulence, which would seem highly appropriate for ARO's Fluid Dynamics Program. Additional research opportunities in the biofluids area might also be considered.
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From page 117... ...
Machine learning and neural networks techniques are currently being used with some degree of success to analyze the dynamics of nonlinear complex turbulent flows. PROPULSION AND ENERGETICS PROGRAM The vision of the Propulsion and Energetics Program is to develop the ability to control chemical energy release rates in energetic materials and fuels via the understanding of phenomena governing initiation, burning, reaction, and extinction.
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From page 118... ...
A modern demonstration of this vision would be expected to include crosscutting projects that bridge areas such as solid mechanics, interface transport phenomena, turbulent combustion, or advanced manufacturing. Overall Scientific Quality and Degree of Innovation The program includes high-quality research projects, yet some concerns do exist, as discussed here.
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From page 119... ...
In many projects, the reliance on existing experimental facilities that are evolving incrementally to reach extreme test conditions may be limiting entrance of innovative ideas and a diversity of researchers. The focus to unravel complex kinetic mechanisms is noteworthy and commendable.
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From page 120... ...
SOLID MECHANICS PROGRAM The Solid Mechanics Program aims to uncover the physical processes responsible for deformation, damage initiation and propagation, and failure of material systems -- particularly under extreme pressure, strain rate, and repetitive loading -- ultimately leading to the creation of lightweight, resilient, and adaptable soldier and system protections. This program's research strategy is to address the following four key scientific questions: (1)
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From page 121... ...
Significant Accomplishments The Solid Mechanics Program is the smallest of those in the Mechanical Sciences Division, having an FY 2019 budget of about 8 percent of the total and per-project funding of about 80 percent of the division average. Peer-reviewed publications at about 1.4 per project-year and graduate student-postdoctoral support of about 1.5 per project-year are each modest.
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From page 122... ...
In general, the PM appears to have significant autonomy in adjusting the focus areas of the research portfolio -- it is the PM who can target potential PIs, manage the proposal review process, assemble proposal review scores, and make final recommendations as to prioritization of funded projects. The individual PM-centric approach for managing division portfolios raised questions related to transparency and methodology of proposal solicitation, proposal review and final assessment, and proposal selection for risk balancing and strategic alignment.
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From page 123... ...
management should develop mechanisms that facilitate interactions within the Mechanical Sciences Division and with the Materials Science, Chemical Sciences, and Physics Divisions. ARO should focus these interactions to be on funding projects with aligned priorities within the programs, be they within the same division or across divisions.
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