Center for Aerospace Structures is now the Aerospace Mechanics Research Center
Areas of AMReC Research
The Center for Aerospace Structures within the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences is now the Aerospace Mechanics Research Center (AMReC).
Faculty in the center have voted to approve the name change, which reflects growth in its mission, according to Alireza Doostan, Associate Professor in Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences and the center's director.
"Over the last 10 years several faculty members with research interests in the areas of fluids and materials have joined the center. As a result, the scope of the research has been beyond structures, so we felt it should be rebranded to better reflect who we are and what we do," said Doostan.
Originally founded in 1986 as the Center for Space Structures and Control to conduct research on the use of computer simulation in design, analysis, and control of next generation aerospace structures, the Center has gained an international reputation for its design, modeling, and experimental approaches. Its work now also includes multi-functional material systems and micro-electromechanical systems, as well as multidisciplinary analysis and design optimization.
An emerging research thrust in AMReC is concerned with the multiscale dynamics of composite materials and structures. This research, which involves analysis, design, and computational studies, aims at developing new material and structural concepts for aerospace and alternative applications.
Centers at the University of Colorado Boulder are single or multi-disciplinary units organized to conduct research, scholarship, and creative work, education, and/or leadership and service activities. Centers are typically organized around the investigation of a specific theme, issue, project, or policy topic, but often encompass interdisciplinary work spanning a number of academic fields. There are nearly 100 centers across the university.
AMReC is one of four centers located within Smead Aerospace. The others are BioServe Space Technologies, the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research, and the Research & Engineering Center for Unmanned Vehicles.