Research ► Research Projects
Summary of Research Projects
Up till Jan 2021, the PMMD lab works on about 10 research projects covering from high entropy alloy development to additive manufacturing design. The projects utilize both theoretical modeling and top-notch experimental techniques to perform reseearch in new materials development and ICMD Integrated Computational Materials Design.
Project 1. Integrated Computational Materials Design for Additive Manufacturing of High-Strength Steels used in Naval Environments
(Early Stage Innovations ESI grant from NASA’s Space Technology Research Grants Program)
This is a collaborative research with Dr. Albert To and ANSYS developing an ICME model framework for additive manufacturing process for quality control and materials design. According to NASA, the goal of the Space Technology Research Grants program is to accelerate the development of space technologies in their earliest stages to enable future systems capabilities and missions for NASA, other government agencies and the commercial space sector. The program is funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is responsible for developing the cross-cutting, pioneering, new technologies and capabilities needed by the agency to achieve its current and future missions.
Project 2. Integrated Computational Materials Design for Additive Manufacturing of High-Strength Steels used in Naval Environments
(ONR FOA Announcement#N00014-17-S-F003 AMANE Additive Manufacturing Alloys for Naval Environments)
This research is supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in additive manufacturing alloy design. CALPHAD-based ICME method will be applied to design new steel powder for naval environment. Experiments will be performed using laser manufacturing and post-processing to study process-microstructure-property relations for designed additive manufacturing steels.
Project 3. Integrated Computational Material Engineering Technologies for Additive Manufacturing
(National Aeronautics and Space Administration - STTR Phase II)
This research is supported by NASA combining ICME and experiments for qualification of Inconel 718. Research includes identifying best in-situ and post-heat treatment of Inconel 718 for desired strength and high fatigue resistance.
Project 4. Integrated Computational Materials and Mechanical Modeling for Additive Manufacturing of Alloys with Graded Structure Used in Fossil Fuel Power Plants
(Department of Energy / NETL)
A new additive manufacturing process (Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing) will be developed for finite element applications. Wire arc additive manufacturing will be performed by United Technologies Research Center, and modeling will be performed at Pitt.
Project 5. Integrating Dissolvable Supports, Topology Optimization, and Microstructure Design to Drastically Reduce Costs in Developing and Post-Processing Nuclear Plant Components Produced by Laser-based Powder Bed Additive Manufacturing
(Department of Energy / NEUP)
Project 6. Mechanisms of hierarchical microstructure formation under rapid solidification for functional Heusler alloys
(National Science Foundation)
Functional Heusler alloys such as magnetic shape-memory alloys or magnetocaloric materials induce up to 10% strain under an applied magnetic field and actuate nearly as fast as piezoceramics, or enable solid-state cooling with up to 30% better efficiency than traditional technologies. Presently, the fabrication of complex shaped parts with good functional properties is very limited, compromising a broad application of these materials. Advanced, laser and electron beam manufacturing techniques enable complex build design, but create challenging microstructures due to rapid heating, melting and solidification, and result in non-functional or low functionality parts. This award supports an integrated experimental and computational research that aims to improve our fundamental understanding between composition, microstructure and functional properties in Ni-Mn-Ga based Heusler alloys subjected to rapid solidification and cyclic heating in layer-based advanced manufacturing and post-processing. Research efforts pursue the following goals: (A) Identify fundamental relations between alloy composition, microstructure and properties under far-from-equilibrium rapid solidification and cyclic heating conditions, (B) develop CALPHAD-based predictive models for nonequilibrium phase formations, micro-segregation behavior and magnetic properties, and (C) establish composition and grain size control in layered deposits of functional Heusler alloys through targeted rapid solidification processing and post-heat treatment. The outcome of this research will enable laser-based deposition of Heusler alloys and permit functional, complex shaped, self-limiting actuator components (magnetic shape-memory alloys) and highly efficient solid-state cooling devices (magnetocaloric materials).