Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 10 1635
Apply for PD 10 1635
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Structural Materials and Mechanics" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041 Engineering Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 13, 2014 and posted on Aug 4, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Opportunity PD 10 1635 is no longer accepting new proposals.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled Structural Materials and Mechanics (SMM), listed under Funding Opportunity Number PD 10 1635, focused on supporting fundamental research in civil engineering, specifically the behavior of civil infrastructure materials and the mechanics of structural components used in the built environment. The program emphasized science and engineering research that advances core understanding of how structural materials and components perform, fail, degrade, and interact with their environment over time, with the broader goal of improving the life cycle performance and sustainability of civil infrastructure systems.
A central theme of the SMM program was research on structural components made from both natural and synthetic materials. This includes traditional civil infrastructure materials as well as emerging or engineered alternatives, and it extends to the structural components built from these materials rather than only isolated material samples. The opportunity highlighted interest in how these materials and components respond to different types of loading and exposure conditions, including mechanical loads, hydrothermal effects (interactions involving moisture and temperature), and time-dependent loads. Time-dependent behavior is especially important in infrastructure because many structural problems develop gradually through creep, shrinkage, relaxation, fatigue, aging, and other long-term degradation mechanisms that can significantly affect safety, serviceability, maintenance needs, and long-run costs.
The program also tied this fundamental mechanics and materials research directly to infrastructure outcomes, particularly life cycle performance and sustainable development. In practical terms, that framing supports work that can lead to longer-lasting structures, reduced repair frequency, better resilience to environmental stressors, improved understanding of deterioration pathways, and ultimately more efficient use of materials and resources. While the program description is research-oriented rather than application procurement-oriented, the stated interest in sustainability and life cycle impact signals that proposals were expected to connect fundamental advances to how civil infrastructure is designed, assessed, maintained, or renewed over its full service life.
Administratively, this opportunity was a discretionary NSF grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category, and it did not require cost sharing or matching. The CFDA listing associated with it was 47.041 (Engineering Grants). Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was generally open to any applicant type, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full program text. The posting date was August 4, 2010, and the original closing date was October 1, 2010, with recurring annual submission windows noted as due by 5 p.m. local time for the proposer, specifically September 1 and October 1, and also January 15 and February 15. However, the record indicates the opportunity is archived and no longer accepting new proposals, with an archive date of January 13, 2014. The listing shows expected awards and estimated total funding as 0 in the source data, which typically reflects how the archived record was captured rather than a definitive statement about historical awards made under the program.
For support related to accessing the full announcement electronically, the contact provided was NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, and an additional information link referenced an NSF program description for PD 10 1635.
Structural Materials and Mechanics (SMM) NSF Grant (PD 10 1635) - FAQs
1) What is the Structural Materials and Mechanics (SMM) program?
The NSF Structural Materials and Mechanics (SMM) program (Funding Opportunity Number PD 10 1635) supported fundamental research in civil engineering focused on (1) the behavior of civil infrastructure materials and (2) the mechanics of structural components used in the built environment.
2) What kinds of research did this opportunity emphasize?
The program emphasized science and engineering research that advances core understanding of how structural materials and components perform, fail, degrade, and interact with their environment over time. A key goal was improving life cycle performance and sustainability of civil infrastructure systems.
3) Was the focus on materials only, or also on structural components?
The opportunity highlighted research on structural components made from natural and synthetic materials. It extended beyond isolated material samples to include structural components built from those materials.
4) What types of materials were included?
The program included traditional civil infrastructure materials as well as emerging or engineered alternatives, as long as the work fit the civil infrastructure context and focused on structural materials and/or structural components.
5) What loading or exposure conditions were of interest?
The opportunity specifically noted interest in how materials and components respond to different types of loading and exposure conditions, including mechanical loads, hydrothermal effects (moisture and temperature interactions), and time-dependent loads.
6) What does "time-dependent behavior" mean in this program?
Time-dependent behavior refers to changes that occur gradually over time, which is common in infrastructure. The description called out mechanisms such as creep, shrinkage, relaxation, fatigue, aging, and other long-term degradation processes that can influence safety, serviceability, maintenance needs, and long-run costs.
7) How did the program connect research to infrastructure outcomes?
While the program was research-oriented, it tied fundamental mechanics and materials research to infrastructure outcomes like life cycle performance and sustainable development. The framing suggests proposals were expected to connect fundamental advances to how civil infrastructure is designed, assessed, maintained, or renewed over its full service life.
8) Was this opportunity aimed at procurement or implementation projects?
No. Based on the description provided, it was oriented toward fundamental research rather than application procurement. However, it also signaled interest in sustainability and life cycle impacts relevant to real infrastructure performance.
9) Did this program require cost sharing or matching funds?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching.
10) What was the CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing associated with the opportunity was 47.041 (Engineering Grants).
11) What was the funding category/activity type?
It was an NSF discretionary grant program under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
12) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was generally open to any applicant type, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full program text.
13) When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date listed was August 4, 2010.
14) What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed was October 1, 2010.
15) Were there recurring submission windows?
Yes. The opportunity noted recurring annual submission windows due by 5 p.m. local time for the proposer, specifically September 1, October 1, January 15, and February 15.
16) Is the SMM (PD 10 1635) opportunity still accepting proposals?
No. The record indicates the opportunity is archived and no longer accepting new proposals. The archive date listed was January 13, 2014.
17) The listing shows expected awards and estimated total funding as 0. What does that mean?
The source data shows expected awards and estimated total funding as 0, which typically reflects how the archived record was captured rather than a definitive statement about historical awards made under the program.
18) Where could applicants get help accessing the full announcement electronically?
For support related to accessing the full announcement electronically, the contact provided was NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
19) Was there an official program description reference?
Yes. An additional information link referenced an NSF program description for PD 10 1635.
20) What is the overall intent of the program in plain terms?
In plain terms, the program aimed to strengthen the foundational science behind how infrastructure materials and structural components behave over time, including how they degrade, so that civil infrastructure can be made longer-lasting, more sustainable, and better understood across its full life cycle.
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