Embry-Riddle Researchers Use World's Brightest X-Rays to Test Ultrafast Aircraft Materials
- MM24 News Desk
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Researchers from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University are leveraging the newly upgraded Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory to test thin, durable materials for hypersonic flight. Using X-rays up to 500 times brighter than before, the team is developing a method to recreate the extreme pressures and temperatures these materials must withstand while flying at five to seven times the speed of sound.
Designing an aircraft to fly faster than a rifle bullet presents a paradox. The materials need to be incredibly light and thin, yet strong enough to survive the searing heat and violent pressures of hypersonic travel. While engineering such materials is a monumental challenge, testing them under real flight conditions has been nearly impossible—until now. A pioneering team is tackling this problem head-on with the help of the world's brightest X-rays.
The research group from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is designing a specialized device that can replicate the brutal environment of hypersonic flight. This device will work in concert with the ultrabright X-rays produced by the Advanced Photon Source (APS), a U.S. Department of Energy user facility located at Argonne National Laboratory. Together, they will allow scientists to watch in real time how candidate materials deform and react under stress.
“Recreating the environment of hypersonic flight can be complicated,” explained Professor Seetha Raghavan, a co-principal investigator on the project. She noted that existing methods, like high enthalpy wind tunnels, are incredibly energy-intensive and limited in access.
The team’s goal is to create a more efficient and accessible alternative. The key to their success is the recently completed upgrade of the APS, which increased the brightness of its X-ray beams by up to 500 times. This unprecedented power is essential for capturing the rapid, microscopic changes that occur in materials at hypersonic speeds.
“When you are talking about hypersonics, you’re talking about high speeds and fast changes, and response time is critical,” Raghavan stated. “You can only get that kind of time resolution with enough flux, and the upgraded APS is able to help with that.”
The extreme brightness also allows the beam to be focused onto the incredibly thin materials being developed, providing a level of detail that was previously unattainable.
The enhanced capabilities of the facility are a game-changer for this type of research.
Victoria Cooley, an APS beamline scientist, emphasized how the upgrade synergizes with the project's ambitions. “Brighter X-rays allow us to probe deep into materials with a higher-resolution beam and map very thin samples like these,” she said, according to the Argonne National Laboratory.
“At the same time, we have installed faster, more sensitive detectors to capture chemical or crystallographic changes occurring incredibly quickly. These two pieces come together to make world-changing projects such as this one possible.”
The potential applications for durable hypersonic materials are vast, spanning next-generation military and civilian aircraft to high-speed cargo delivery vehicles. Unlocking these applications depends on finding materials that are not only capable but also cost-effective to produce.
This critical research is supported by a $1.4 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Hypersonics Transition Office, administered through the University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics. The project is led by principal investigator Professor William Engblom, with Professor Mark Ricklick also serving as a co-principal investigator, forming a robust team poised to push the boundaries of high-speed flight.
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