Derek Caputo

Research Engineer

Education

B.E., Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University, 2002
M.E., Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University, 2006

Experience

Mr. Caputo joined MR&D in June 2002. Since that time he has been primarily involved with applications involving high temperature ceramics, CMCs, and refractory metals. He has analyzed the use of lined refractory metals in adjustable solid rocket nozzles. Analysis included the calculation of thermal loading, which was applied to FE models of the components for heat transfer and structural analysis. Mr. Caputo was also part of a team that developed innovative designs for use of refractory metals, specifically TaC, in solid rocket motors.

Mr. Caputo has recently been involved with analyzing the use of CMC for low observable exhaust components. He was part of a team picked to develop CMC components for the now defunct Apache helicopter program. He is now helping with analysis of a low observable CMC exhaust for use on autonomous vehicles. This project has resulted in successful manufacture and testing of CMC exhaust manifolds. Mr. Caputo was also part of a team funded by DARPA to study the use of ceramic composites in air force hypersonic programs. Hypersonic vehicle components are exposed to extreme thermal loads from aerodynamic heating as well as combustion in their scramjet engines. The program aims to find materials and designs that will allow vehicles to fly at Mach 8 and beyond.