The following organizations have joined the CFSP as sponsors of the WSU research site. They will support the Advanced Joining & Processing Lab’s CFSP research projects.
Spirit AeroSystems is also in the process of becoming a member as well as another organization that plans to join later this year. These organizations will determine the projects the lab performs and have exclusive access to the results of the research. Additional companies, government research and development organizations and government-owned contractor-operated laboratories may become members of the CFSP by contributing $35,000 annually in support of the WSU research site.
In February of 2006, Wichita State University received a planning grant from the NSF in order to prepare to become a CFSP research site and gain industry sponsors. Requirements included determining possible research projects and gaining at least five industry and/or government sponsors to contribute at least $150,000 in membership fees.
On June 11, the NSF awarded the university a total of $100,000 for the 2007-2008 fiscal years. The lab will receive $50,000 each year for fiscal years 2009-2011, with the option to renew after that.
The CFSP is a multi-institutional Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) started in October 2004. The center brings together the premier friction stir processing (FSP) academic institutions in the United States and focuses on addressing the needs of aerospace, aeronautic, energy, military, and commercial industries in developing friction stir processing. Its mission is:
“to advance, develop and promote research into the principles and technology of Friction Stir Processing science and engineering through research, development, education, and technology exchange among academic, industry, and government entities. It is also the mission of the center to increase the quantity and quality of the professionals prepared to work in the area; to involve the faculty of the University(s) in research in areas of common interest to Sponsors and the University(s); and to perform research which will allow global Friction Stir Processing facilities to be competitive in the world economy."
The existing CFSP university research sites are the South Dakota School of Mines, the Universityof South Carolina, BrighamYoungUniversity and the Universityof Missouri–Rolla.
For more information, contact Dwight Burford at 316-978-3204 or visit the Advanced Joining & Processing Lab's portal site.
Wichita State still number four in aerospace R&D
