Current Research
New Equipment for AMSLNew updates are coming soon...
Shared FacilitiesWe work in collaboration with Composite Materials Laboratory for processing and Advanced Materials Testing Laboratory for mechanical testing (multiple electromechanical and servo-hydraulic testing frames ranging in load capacity from 50 lbs to 250,000 lbs. The equipment is capable of fatigue testing materials and small structures in axial tension/compression, multiaxial tension-torsion, and combined bending and torsion. Related equipment includes an induction coil heating unit for thermo-mechanical fatigue, a high temperature isothermal furnace and a moderate temperature isothermal test chamber for material testing), software packages (ANSYS, Nastran/Patran, ABAQUS etc.), and UA Central Analytical Facility for micro and nano-scaled analysis.
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Facilities and Equipment1. 3D printer
4. Mini Pelletizer (CSI-194C) 5. Craver Hot Press 6. Thermolyne Type 2200 Hot Plate (2 qt.) 7. Thermolyne Type 1000 Hot Plate 8. Isotemp. Oven (Fisher-208) 9. Bath Sonication (Fisher-S60) 10. Tip Sonication 11. High-shear mixer ultrasonication system (ARM-310) 12. VARTM setup 13. Optical Microscope by Fisher Scientific with digital 14. High-speed diamond wheel cutter (MK-370) 15. Low-speed diamond wheel cutter (SBT-650) 16. Thermal Imaging Camera (Teledyne FLIR A365) |
High-rate manufacturing of high-temperature thermoset composites
Thermoset polymers and composites are vital in today's aerospace industries and are playing a crucial role in developing next-generation lightweight, energy-efficient structures. The current method of manufacturing high-performance thermoset components involves curing the monomer at high temperatures for several hours under external pressure inside an autoclave. However, this traditional curing process is slow and more energy intensive. Considering applications such as repair of composite parts, on-demand parts production in challenging environments and remote locations like the navy ships and in space, significant research efforts are needed towards developing innovative fast-curing techniques. Different methods such as resistive or induction heating and reactive extrusion have emerged as promising solutions to effectively address this challenge. In this research, we aim to explore alternative solutions for rapid curing, utilizing a self-propagating exothermic reaction wave to transform liquid monomers into fully cured polymers, as shown in Fig 1. Our research will focus on understanding and precisely controlling the polymerization kinetics at ambient and elevated temperatures. This precise control would enable stable monomer solutions to rapidly transform into fully cured polymers within seconds, significantly reducing energy requirements and curing times compared to conventional oven or autoclave methods.
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Integrated materials and engineering design platform (IMEDP) for anisotropic materials
Most of our structural engineering designs are performed at the macroscopic level using continuum mechanics-based theoretical models, numerical tools, testing, and available material properties. In many situations, the stringent design requirements of structural engineers put challenges for the materials and production engineers in terms of manufacturing complexity, cost, and production time. As a result, developing a synergistic integrated computational material and engineering design platform is in high demand by technical experts to reduce cost and production time. At present, there remain two significant challenges in IMEDP. First, the development of high-fidelity simulation models related to process, microstructure, and property, and second, the integration of all the experimentally validated simulated models and other computational tools into an automated workflow so that processing parameters, material microstructure, and structural properties can be optimized simultaneously. The current AM technology of manufacturing continuous fiber-reinforced anisotropic composite laminate structures is immature, and the processed microstructures show high porosity and poor strength through-thickness direction. Currently, no knowledge-based IMEDP exists for additively manufactured anisotropic laminated structural materials with high-fidelity computational models and experimental tools to achieve an optimum high-performance structural system component at reduced cost and production time.
The anticipated outcomes include the development of an integrated physics-based comprehensive software package. This outcome represents pivotal advancements, offering sophisticated tools for the analysis of AM components. By improving our current capabilities to analyze structural components for various aeronautics and mission-critical applications, this research aims to contribute significantly to the goal of providing dependable solutions.
The anticipated outcomes include the development of an integrated physics-based comprehensive software package. This outcome represents pivotal advancements, offering sophisticated tools for the analysis of AM components. By improving our current capabilities to analyze structural components for various aeronautics and mission-critical applications, this research aims to contribute significantly to the goal of providing dependable solutions.
Lightweight Space Structures and On-site Repair Solutions
Unlike polymer composites, high temperature ceramics exhibit remarkable resistance to melting and can withstand elevated operating temperature. This characteristic makes them highly promising for applications in extreme environments, such as hypersonic flight. However, more research is needed on ceramics for on-demand manufacturing and repair needs for space applications. With the help of academia and industry collaboration, our research will focus on in-space manufacturing and simulated space environment testing of composites, ceramics, and metals. Understanding the long-term behavior of the materials under thermal cycling, vacuum, radiation, and microgravity would be the key focus. The primary objective of this project will be to understand how space environment affects the on-site parts manufacturing process and develop ultrahigh temperature materials that would resist fracture at temperature fluctuations and exhibit resilience against creep at high temperatures.
Interlaminar Shear Strength Test
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Experiments for FFF process optimization and uncertainty analysis
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Fracture toughness analysis of polymer composites
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Effect of process parameters on AM parts quality
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Numerical model of bead spreading architecture
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Thermofluidic model of melt swelling and temperature profile of polymer AM process
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