Bryce Abbott

“My favorite part of my job is the diversity of projects I get to support, from urban air mobility concepts to space launch systems. Each project demands unique approaches and offers the opportunity to learn new things.”

Bryce Abbott first learned about North Carolina Space Grant from a university newsletter calling for applications for their Undergraduate Research Award. Abbott took initiative and contacted professors. His interview with Dr. Fuh-Gwo Yuan, NCSU Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, turned a lab position working on structural health monitoring, such as finding early signs of damage in structures like an airplane, building, or spacecraft.

In 2017, Abbott’s undergraduate summer award focused on detecting barely-visible impact damage (BVID) in composite structures using non-contact inspection techniques (such as laser scanning or ultrasonic sensing). Caused by low-velocity impacts from hail, tool-drops, etc., BVID is difficult to reliably identify and can significantly reduce the structural integrity of aircraft and spacecraft. 

Subsequent research rewards allowed Abbott to improve on these techniques. After internships at National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) and NASA Langley, supported by NC Space Grant awards, and work on his dissertation, his team ultimately developed a method for quickly spotting BVID. Using a high-speed camera to capture the interference of guided waves with subsurface damage, they created a system for inspecting aircraft bodies for unseen damage. With novel signal processing algorithms, they were able to generate maps of BVID from just a quick video of the surface of a composite structure.

“My undergraduate awards that supported me at the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) and NASA Langley directly lead to my decision to pursue a Ph.D. and continue work that these awards initially started, igniting my interest in structural health monitoring.” 

Abbott’s internships offered him practical experience beyond the classroom and build meaningful industry connections. “Internships at NIA and NASA Langley allowed me to get practical experience outside the academic environment,” said Abbot

Today, Abbott is a senior aerospace structural engineer at Collier Aerospace in Raleigh, NC. Abbott works with customers from across the aerospace industry, performing structural trade studies and optimizing structures for weight and manufacturability. This includes managing the pipeline for ideation of new software features into Collier’s flagship stress analysis software, HyperX. 

Abbott learned about Collier Aerospace through a training course they offered during his NIA internship.

His internships and graduate work allowed for a wide variety of opportunities and experiences that positioned him for a compelling career. “My favorite part of my job is the diversity of projects I get to support, from urban air mobility concepts to space launch systems. Each project demands unique approaches and offers the opportunity to learn new things,” said Abbott.

Abbott’s Advice for Students

“Take advantage of what’s around you! Engage with your professors during office hours – not only can you deepen your understanding of the material, but you build valuable relationships: “Professors often have extensive networks in both academia and industry, so the effort you put into building those relationships can continue to benefit you after the class ends.” Always look for opportunities to learn and grow – participate in clubs, join research labs, and take part in other hands-on experiences to explore your passions.” 

Current Position: Senior Aerospace Structural Engineer – Collier Aerospace

Degrees: Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, NC State University

NC Space Grant Awards:

• NC Space Grant Graduate Fellow (2020-2022)
• NC Space Grant Scholar, NASA Langley (2018, 2019)
• NC Space Grant Scholar, National Institute of Aerospace (2017)
• NC Space Grant Undergraduate Research Award (2017)

Favorite Space Projects: I am especially excited about the upcoming Artemis missions and all of the cooperation, healthy competition, and innovation these are creating. The goal to return to the moon and establish a sustained human presence lays the foundation to reach Mars. 

I am particularly inspired by Lunar Gateway, which represents a major step toward true deep space infrastructure. This feels like the beginning of a new era in spaceflight that I hope will reignite global interest and inspire the next generation of innovators

Quick links:

Find Bryce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-abbott-92994312a/

Check out Bryce’s recent publications:

• Abbott, T. Bryce, and Yuan, Fuh-Gwo. “Subsurface impact damage imaging for composite structures using 3D digital image correlation.” Structural Health Monitoring 23, no. 1 (2024): 568-587. https://doi.org/10.1177/1475921723117 
• Abbott, T. Bryce, and Yuan, Fuh-Gwo. “A simple image correlation technique for imaging subsurface damage from low-velocity impacts in composite structures.” Structural Health Monitoring 23, no. 6 (2024): 3778-3799. https://doi.org/10.1177/14759217241228884