Daniel V. Hladio

Research Engineer

Education

B.E., Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2003
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University, 2007
Penetration Mechanics Course, Southwest Research Institute, 2011

Experience

Since joining MR&D in November of 2003, Mr. Hladio has worked on a variety of programs focusing on the design and analysis of composite materials, refractory metals and ceramics. Example design projects include vehicular armor, hypervelocity missile radomes, reentry vehicle leading edges and heat shields, nuclear fuel rods, rotorcraft components (helicopter cuff and tailboom) and rocket nozzles.

Working with the Marine Corps and serving as principal investigator, Mr. Hladio developed a hydrodynamic model with the capability of designing vehicular armor. The model includes the propagation of shockwaves within solid materials and utilizes a variety of constitutive models, some implemented as a User Material (UMAT) by Mr. Hladio. Four different armor recipes were fabricated by a team of Exothermics (strikeface) and Albany Engineer Composites (3D woven composite backing). Pretest predictions were made by the hydrodynamic model prior to ballistic testing at H. P. White Laboratories. The ballistic testing correlated with the model’s predictions proving the accuracy of the model. The model can be extended to include other shockwave phenomena, such as explosions and material fragmentation.

Mr. Hladio has been studying the effects of rain erosion on monolithic ceramics and CMCs for missile radomes. He developed a sophisticated impact model with theories based on fracture mechanics, micromechanics, and various composite failure criteria. Mr. Hladio was able to successfully correlate crack patterns in monolithic ceramics subjected to supersonic impacts. The model was then extended to identify failure within CMC materials. In other work, he has helped NAVAIR by analyzing and predicting failure in rotorcraft components. Using micromechanics and comprehensive tools, Mr. Hladio was able to accurately correlate both ground test strain gage data and component failure. He has also worked with Williams International under contract to the Air Force to develop an expendable high speed turbine engine planned for supersonic missiles that fly at speeds approaching Mach 4. Some of the nozzle components are exposed to extremely high gas temperatures making CMCs an attractive alternative material.  Recommendations on material candidates, component design, and component testing were made after extensive analysis.

Prior to working at MR&D, Mr. Hladio was member of the Integration Testing Department and member of the Mechanics Team at ANSYS, Inc. While there he worked closely with developers to advance the capabilities of ANSYS and ensure the quality of the finite element program.

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