AMIEE Lab - Research

Additive manufacturing (AM) continues to revolutionize how engineers innovate and design. As metals AM methods (e.g. laser-powder bed fusion) mature, more applications for AM-enabled parts emerge. Some example AM topics that the AMIEE Lab focuses on are provided below.

Process modeling

AMIEE has developed (10+ years) capabilities to efficiently and accurately simulate the laser-powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition AM processes using commercial software augmented with custom scripts.

Broader impacts: Companies can save significant time and money by simulating AM processes for learning process-property relationships as opposed to trial-and-error experimental learning. In addition, AM simulation aids engineers in learning important transport phenomena at multiple time/space scales.

AM part characterization

AMIEE is conducting experiments focused on determining the effects of nuclear irradiation on nickel-based superalloy AM material. This is an ongoing collaboration with Auburn University and the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR). The Triga Mark II Nuclear Reactor Facility at KSU is also used for efficiently dosing AM material for experiments

Broader impacts: Next-generation nuclear reactors (e.g. very small modular reactors) can benefit significantly in terms production and operation through the use of AM. However, the degradation of AM material due to neutron irradiation is still not fully known; hence, the knowledgebase needs to be expanded to ensure their safe integration for nuclear applications.

Next-generation heat exchangers

AMIEE continues to use its experience with AM to effectively design next-generation heat exchangers and heat pipes for various energy applications. These devices are designed using novel design-for-AM and optimization approaches, and are also tested in house.

Broader impacts: AM enables the fabrication of heat exchangers with novel features - unobtainable via traditional manufacturing methods. For example, AM heat exchangers can be tailored for both hot and cold streams, possess complex turtuosity, non-uniform channel cross-sections and more - allowing for higher heat transfer per unit volume.