Gary Tiscia, Jr.
Research Engineer
Education
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University, May 2008
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University (in progress), Expected December 2011
Experience
Mr. Tiscia joined MR&D as a student intern in January 2008 and worked in this capacity until July 2008, when he started work as a full-time Research Engineer. For three summers previous to joining MR&D, Mr. Tiscia worked as a student intern with Pratt and Whitney (United Technologies) in East Hartford, CT, where his duties included repair development for commercial and military jet engines and quality assurance of commercial flight manuals.
Since joining MR&D, Mr. Tiscia has been involved in several projects. He is currently working on the design of braided C/SiC axial thrusters which requires transient heat transfer analyses and subsequent structural analyses. Analysis inputs are based on composite material properties calculated from micromechanical codes. The expected operating environments for the thrusters are steady-state temperatures in excess of 3000˚F and internal pressure loads of 1250 psi.
Additionally, Mr. Tiscia is working on non-eroding ceramic-metallic throat inserts. For over thirty seconds of burn time, the throat inserts experience operating temperatures in excess of 6000˚F and pressure loads in excess of 700 psi. Analysis requires the calculation of fabrication stresses prior to motor firing and also developing appropriate failure theories for the insert materials.
Finally, Mr. Tiscia is designing a Radome involute surface and corresponding ply pattern. The data obtained from the applicable involute surface equations is used in SolidWorks and SurfaceWorks to develop design models.