Overview of Services
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Advanced Composite Institute (ACI) is to initiate, lead, and facilitate high-utility programs that drive innovation in advanced composites research, development, and manufacturing via partnerships with universities, US government agencies, and industry associates.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE
MSU’s Advanced Composites Institute (ACI) is a highly respected university and industry applied research asset focused on pioneering transformational composite technologies in a variety of critical sectors. The Institute is equipped and positioned to support disruptive, transdisciplinary programs that address fundamental upstream and broader downstream needs in aerospace, defense, automotive, marine, energy, and other critical markets. The Institute dramatically enhances MSU’s ability to design, fabricate, and test various full-scale, light-weight composite vehicles and components. The ACI strategically invests in capabilities and expertise that align with acknowledged real-word problems. The 50,000 ft2 facility also houses the distinguished Marvin B. Dow Stitched Composites Development Center, dedicated to research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) of stitched composite technologies that improve the efficiency of material structures. The ACI is a trusted partner of major OEMs in multiple market segments for ideation, engineering, design, fabrication, scale-up, evaluation, training, and technology transfer to manufacturing facilities. The ACI has successfully executed hundreds of fabrication orders for tier-one partners, providing the foundation for cutting-edge advanced material RDD&D in valuable innovation portfolios. The Institute is the recipient of multiple federal grants, state grants and industry contracts. Currently the ACI is engaged in projects with NASA, FAA, ERDC, DOL, ASSURE, USAF, USGVSC, and many private industry clients. The ACI regularly partners with local high schools, community colleges, and workforce development agencies to establish sustainable workforce pipelines that support next-generation technology transition.
Key Research Areas:
- Academic Pioneers in Voice of the Customer (VOC) engagements – qualifying, prioritizing, and quantifying high-utility market satisfaction gaps.
- Technology Readiness for Stitched and Unstitched Resin Infusion
- Industry scale prototype production of next-generation composite geometries
- High-rate resin-infused manufacturing process development
- Demonstration of economic manufacturing of advanced composite structures at scale
- Delamination arrestment features facilitated by methodical fabric stitching
- Advances in infusion technology for rapid manufacturing of blended composite materials
- Development of processes for bonding resin infused substrate structures
- Fire forensic analysis and effects of biofuel exposure on Aerospace Composites
- Z-axis reinforcement in high-temperature carbon/carbon composites (hypersonics)
FACILITIES & CAPABILITIES
The MSU Advanced Composites Institute (ACI) 50,000 ft2 facility also houses the Marvin B. Dow Stitched Composites Development Center, dedicated to research and development of through plane Z axis reinforming composite technologies. The site is staffed by for research and design engineering, operations, project management and business development resources, encompassing program proposal and development efforts through full scale demonstration projects – design through verification / validation. The operations segment of ACI brings industry experience staffing for both internal research support and prototype product deliveries. In addition to research focused programs, the Institute’s staffing draws on many years of aerospace & defense industry backgrounds to offer Design For manufacture focused process development in support of a full package transition to production.
ACI Metrics and Past Performance
- $8M in state-of-the-art and unique equipment
- 21 Full Time Employees with over 150 years of combined experience
- 15 Student Researchers (Graduate, Undergraduate, and High-school students)
- Nationally Certified Composite Technicians
- AS9100 Certified
- Over 35 active clients
- Export Controlled and Monitored Facility
- Over 400 protype parts fabricated
- Multi-component Wing Demonstrator
- Stitched and Integrated 8ft x 5ft x 5ft wing cross-section
- SRI rib panels 4ft x 5ft fabricated and assembled with cross-section
- 6ft Stitched and Infused t-structures (stringer panels) - 20 fabrications
- Full-scale Hoods and tailgates fabricated and fit to military vehicle
- Nose cones designed, fabricated, and installed on UAS – flight tested and approved
- Military kinetic and nonkinetic soft asset protection stitched panels process conceived, designed, developed, and executed – 100 structures - >70% increase in V50
Staff Experience Highlights:
- Combined 175 years of industry experience
- 80% of staff has meaningful industrial experience
- All technicians have experience building aerospace composites in industry including at Eaton Aerospace, Aurora Flight Sciences, Curtis Wright, Parker Hannifin, Raytheon, RUAG Space USA, and Stark Aerospace
- Staff members have experience in multiple notable industry programs including, F-35, F-22, C-5A, C-141, C-130, C-17, B1-B, B609-V22, MMA, M270A1 ILMS missile launcher, Legacy MLRS, AAAV, Boeing and Airbus platforms from 727-787 and A319-A380, NRG mq-5b, Sikorsky Canadian S92, Sikorsky USA navel sonobuoy launcher, Orion, regional jet commercial products from Gulfstream, Bombardier, Cessna and Embraer, etc.
Leadership
Chris Bounds, Director
Crisler Herndon, Assitant Director Research Programs
Wayne Huberty, Associate Director
Location and hours of operation
| Hours |
Location |
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Monday - Friday
8:00am - 4:00pm
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110 Airport Rd
Starkville, MS 39759
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Links and Resources
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