Research

Current Research Areas:

My team works on both fundamental and applied research and on both experimental and computational research related to metal additive manufacturing. Our current research areas mainly include:

Manufacturing

  • Improving the manufacturing capabilities of existing laser-based additive manufacturing (AM) processes.
  • Developing new manufacturing methods – hybrid AM processes – that incorporate secondary processes (e.g., micro-rolling) and/or heat resources (e.g., induction heating) to transform AM technologies.

Materials

  • In-situ synthesizing advanced metallic and metal-based materials using AM and hybrid AM processes.
  • Convergent manufacturing of dissimilar materials.
  • Resolving the metallurgical defects in AM-fabricated alloys and materials.

Physics-based simulations

  • Multi-scale microstructure modeling.
  • Crystal plasticity finite element modeling.
  • AM process modeling.

Data-driven modeling

  • Process optimization.
  • Defect control.
  • Material design.

Active Research Projects

  1. Single PI, “CAREER: Understanding Dynamic Recrystallization Mechanisms in Hybrid In-situ Rolled Additive Manufacturing,” Sponsored by NSF.
  2. Single PI, “EPSCoR Research Fellows: Origin of Radiation Tolerance of Additive Manufacturing Single-phase Concentrated Solid-solution Alloys,” Sponsored by NSF.
  3. PI, “Design, Manufacturing and Testing of Advanced TBC Bond Coats for Hot Gas Path Hydrogen Turbine Components,” Sponsored by DOE.
  4. PI, “Convergent Manufacturing of Multi-materials with Strengthened Metal-Ceramic Interface,” Sponsored by US Army Research Laboratory.
  5. PI, “Establishing A Hierarchical Physical-Computational Material Design Framework” Sponsored by SMAE STRIve seed grant.
  6. Co-PI, “Laser 3D Printing of Highly Compact Mobile Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cell System,” Sponsored by US ARMY VIPR-GS.
  7. Co-PI, “An Integrated Multi-Material Digital Life Cycle Approach for Additive Manufacturing of Ground Vehicle Structures and Components.” Sponsored by U.S. ARMY Contracting Command, Department of Defense.
  8. Co-PI, “Understanding the Role of Nanostructuring in Enhancing Phase Stability & Void Resistance of TiAl Intermetallic Alloys,” Sponsored by DOE-NE, CINT User Proposal.

Thank you, Sponsors!