David Marshall
Research Professor • Materials
david.marshall@colorado.edu
303-492-9366

Office Location: AERO 367

Research Interests

Materials science, design of materials for high-temperature structures, modeling and testing of thermal, mechanical and environmental responses, processing/properties of ceramics and ceramic composites, oxide materials for battery applications

Current interests include fiber-reinforced ceramic composites, which offer extremely high strength-to-weight ratio at high temperatures, making them critical for a wide range of aerospace and power generation systems (e.g., gas turbine engines, hypersonic flight and thermal protection). These composites have complex and heterogeneous microstructures, leading to highly anisotropic mechanical and thermal properties.  We aim to understand how to process these materials, how to optimize their microstructures for a particular application, and how to measure and predict their behavior in extreme mechanical, thermal and environmental conditions. Activities include analysis of system performance, design of composite microstructures, development of new material systems, and advanced testing and modeling to understand damage and lifetime.

Other research topics have included fracture phenomena, strengthening, toughening, environmental stability and reliability of advanced structural materials, with emphasis on ceramic and intermetallic matrix composites, ultra-hard materials (cBN), transformation-toughened materials and monolithic ceramics.

Select Publications

  • B. N. Cox, G. Nilakantan, O. Sudre, and D. B. Marshall, “Generating virtual specimens for complex non-periodic woven structures by converting machine instructions into topological ordering rules.” Composite Structures, 141 63-78 (2016)
  • J.H. Shaw, M.N. Rossol, D.B. Marshall, F.W. Zok, “Effects of Preform Shear on Tensile Properties of a Woven C/SiC Composite,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 99[9] 3081-3089 (2016).
  • J. H. Shaw, M. N. Rossol, D. B. Marshall, F. W. Zok, “Effects of Tow-Scale Holes on the Mechanical Performance of a 3D Woven C/SiC Composite,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 98 [3] 948–956 (2015)
  • H.A. Bale et al, “Real-Time Quantitative Imaging of Failure Events in Materials under Load at Temperatures above 1600°C,” Nature Materials 12[1] 40-46 (2013)
  • K. Terauds, D. B. Marshall, and R. Raj, “Oxidation of Polymer-Derived HfSiCNO up to 1600oC,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 96 [4] 1278–1284 (2013).
  • R. Miles, P Howard, C. Limbach, S. Zaidi, S. Lucato, B. Cox,  D.B. Marshall, A.M. Espinosa, D. Driemeyer “A Shape Morphing Ceramic Composite for Variable Geometry Scramjet Inlets,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 94[S1] S35-S41 (2011)
  • D. B. Marshall and B. Cox, “Integral Textile Ceramic Structures,” Annu. Rev. Mater. Res.,  38 425-43 (2008)

Select Awards

  • Elected to National Academy of Engineering (2007)
  • Distinguished Life Member, the American Ceramic Society (2011)
  • Mueller Award, the American Ceramic Society (2012)
  • Teledyne Scientific & Imaging Technologist of the Year (2008)
  • Elected to World Academy of Ceramics (2004)