9731013 Hahn This award supports the participation of thirteen U.S. researchers in the "1998 U.S.-Korea Seminar on Composites," to be held in Seoul, Korea, September 7-11, 1998. The U.S. and Korean Coordinators are, respectively, Dr. H. Thomas Hahn, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, and Dr. Chul Rim Choe, Polymer Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul. This seminar will bring together leading scientists/engineers to discuss and exchange information in this area of research and to identify topics which may be suitably addressed in future cooperative activities. As a result of extensive research efforts over the past three decades, a variety of composites have become available which can provide the kind of unique performance that conventional materials cannot. Unfortunately, however, such unique performance is frequently obtained at a high cost, hindering wider application of these materials. Nevertheless, cost can be brought down by using an integrated approach to the development and production of composite products. The necessary integration requires collaboration of engineers from diverse areas of composites science and technology. Thus, the main purpose of the proposed joint seminar is to provide a forum for researchers/educators from widely different backgrounds to exchange information and explore the possibility of future cooperation between the U.S. and Korea to realize mutual benefits from the technology of composites. This project is relevant to the objectives of the U.S.-Korea Cooperative Science Program which seeks to increase the level of cooperation between U.S. and Korean scientists and engineers through the exchange of scientific information, ideas, skills, and techniques and through collaboration on problems of mutual benefit. This project will provide international training and experience for one U.S. graduate student in an important area of res earch. Korean participation is supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF). The Korean Society for Composite Materials (KSCM) will serve as host. ***
