MPRL Facilities
I. Priority and Costs to External Grants/Contracts for MPRL Usage
Potential users of the MPRL are required to fill out an application for use of MPRL facilities well in advance of the desired dates (> 1 month) of usage, carefully outlining the proposed test matrix as well as all equipment and instrumentation needs. All proposals which involve usage of MPRL facilities must be submitted for review and signature of the MPRL Director or Associate Director in addition to the other administrative signatures required at the time of submittal. This is in accordance with Georgia Tech policy, and provides input for advance planning. In some cases, new or additional facilities must be identified to carry out the proposed work if the equipment is already projected as 100% utilized or does not presently exist. In all cases of external proposals for funding, line item funding should be provided for supplies, maintenance cost and support of technician time commensurate with the level of the proposed work.
In addition to these routine M&S and personnel costs, it is expected that faculty who propose use of MPRL facilities will do the following:
- Include salary support including fringe benefits and overhead for the Research Equipment Specialist in the MPRL for purposes of MPRL maintenance and operation, nominally in an amount commensurate with the degree of proposed usage (see guidelines below). Note that this support does not cover any time devoted to particular research projects.
- Include maintenance costs for MPRL equipment in their request for cost sharing from Georgia Tech, also in an amount commensurate with proposed usage of the MPRL (see guidelines below).
Recommended Guidelines for Salary Support of Senior MPRL Research Equipment Specialist:
Annual % time = 5% x (#days per test of type N x # type N tests per year)/30
(not to exceed 10% except in cases of exceptionally heavy usage as agreed upon)
Type N Test Description and #days per test of type N
- Low Cycle Fatigue — 3 days per test
- High Cycle Fatigue —— According to test plan, but not less than 5 days per test
- Fatigue Crack Growth — According to test plan, but not less than 3 days per test
- Fracture — 2 days per test
- Monotonic (e.g. tensile test) — 1 day per test
Recommended Guidelines for Requested Cost Sharing for Maintenance of MPRL Equipment:
$$ Cost Share = $5,000 x (#days per test of type N x # type N tests per year)/30
As an alternative to providing these funds, direct purchase of equipment items that become part of the MPRL from grants and contracts is possible. However, the request for maintenance support cannot be met by matching funds from Georgia Tech that are used to purchase equipment directly, because this equipment will require maintenance as well. Supply items are not considered as part of these funds, but rather a normal expectation of conducting research within the MPRL.
Example:
A particular research program proposes 10 tensile tests, 5 fracture toughness tests and 10 LCF tests over a two year period. Estimates of recommended support levels to include in the proposal are as follows:
% annual support of MPRL technician = 5%(10(1)+5(2)+10*(3))/30 / 2 years = 4.2%
The dollar amount should then be 0.042*annual salary plus fringe benefits and overhead on this amount.
$$ Cost Share request for maintenance = $5000*(10(1)+5(2)+10*(3))/30 = $8,333
To allow MPRL staff to plan for meeting maintenance and personnel costs and to consider new research programs within the lab, faculty must submit the form in Appendix A to the MPRL Director or Associate Director at the time at which a proposal is being considered for submission. Please note that any proposal that involves use of MPRL facilities should require the signature of the MPRL Director or Associate Director on the internal routing sheet as well. Faculty should notify the MPRL Director or Associate Director as soon as possible after notification of funding of any proposal which involves use of MPRL facilities, preferably at least 3-4 months in advance of the proposed starting date.
Externally sponsored research projects that have met the guidelines stated above for MPRL staff and maintenance support are given highest priority for scheduling. Externally sponsored projects that do not meet these guidelines will have lower priority in scheduling. Internally sponsored projects which seek results for purposes of feasibility studies or proposal development are scheduled at the next highest level of priority. Exploratory research without external support is permitted from time to time, but is not encouraged as a routine matter. For such programs, the test matrix must be defined as minimal in order to achieve objectives; it will receive very low priority in the event of high utilization of requested facilities by sponsored research. No guarantees of machine time can be made.
In cases that may be judged as a service provided by the MPRL in support of industrial development or needs of the State of Georgia, somewhat higher priority may be given than to unsponsored exploratory research. Such cases should be referred at the outset to the MPRL administration for consideration prior to any commitments or negotiation.
In the absence of financial support for the program, preference is given in such programs to individuals or groups whom have demonstrated some long-term commitment to and support of the laboratory.
A sample application form for MPRL facility usage appears as Appendix B.