Leslie Weller

Research Engineer

Education

B.E., Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University, May 2003
M.E., Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University, December 2006

Experience

Ms. Weller joined MR&D in July of 2003. She has served as the principal investigator on a NASA SBIR titled “Innovative Reduced Mass Thermal Protection System (TPS) Designs for Human-Rated Aeroassist Vehicles.” She also served as principal investigator in the design of C/SiC Deployable Hot Structure Decelerator (DHSD) Technology Demonstrator under a contract with Snecma Propulsion Solide of Bordeaux, France as part of NASA’s Exploration Systems Research and Technology (ESR&T) program. Ms. Weller has worked on a number of projects in her career at MR&D including a contract with University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) entitled “Hot Aeroshell to Cool Internal Structure Attachment Design” as part of the Falcon DARPA Materials Integrated Product Team (MIPT) effort. Other projects include the Boeing X-37 program where Leslie was involved in the details of finite element modeling, analyses, testing, test design, and post-test data correlation of sub-component element of the C/SiC Flaperon. Work on all of the programs involves the design of CMC components through geometric trade studies based on weight constraints, manufacturing constraints, and mechanical loading in order to identify desirable geometries. Detailed analyses are subsequently performed including transient heat transfer as well as combined thermal, static pressure, acceleration, and random loading at appropriate times in the design trajectories.