Victoria Arias

Vehicles flying in air at high speeds must be able to withstand extreme temperatures and loads. Studying the chemistry and mechanics of these complex surface interactions is necessary to understand at a fundamental level how these aerospace materials might fail under such conditions. My research focuses on the deterioration of carbon fiber composites, which are used in many heat shields that protect space vehicles reentering the Earth's atmosphere. My project goal is to understand and model the coupling of oxygen diffusion-reaction processes and mechanical deterioration of carbon fibers due to high-temperature oxidation.