教师指导:  Dr. Mostafa Hassanalian，机械工程副教授

Across millions of years of evolution, nature has developed processes, objects, materials, 和功能，以提高效率. 通过仿生学和灵感，工程师 and biologists leverage evolutionary insights to produce solutions for complex tasks in aerospace industries, such as drag reduction, locomotion, navigation, control, 传感和无人机/机器人设计. This research project will investigate bioinspired solutions for the development and optimization of autonomous systems for planetary 探索. REU学生 will study the characteristics of natural species, such as animals, birds, or insects’ locomotion, dynamics, structure, behavior, etc., will apply the bioinspired lessons to the design of efficient drones and robots for 行星探索. Students will perform laboratory analyses on natural species to explore wing geometries and body structures then apply the concepts to design and prototype aerial, aquatic, or terrestrial robots including the aerodynamic structures, 控制系统和操作机械. 学生将学习空气动力学、设计 principles, SolidWorks software for design and 3D printing, programming for Arduino controls, electrical circuit wiring through development of the bioinspired drones/robots. 研究成果包括 enhanced understanding of flight aerodynamics, development of novel control algorithms for the designed motive platform, the integration of bioinspired designs to 行星探索 challenges. 

教师指导: Dr. 杰米金伯利，机械工程副教授 

As additive manufacturing has become more prevalent in engineering design, researchers have sought to leverage the unique capability to create complex structures not achievable 通过传统的制造技术.  特别有趣的是晶格结构 which are capable of absorbing large quantities of energy under dynamic loading (e.g. 影响)条件. Many recent studies have focused on demonstration of the response of various lattice topologies, while very few studies have investigated the high-rate 组成材料本身的响应. 这些材料响应数据是 critical for design, simulation, optimization of novel AM structures for dynamic 能量吸收.  This research project will engage the INTENSE REU participant to address this knowledge gap by conducting dynamic compression experiments on AM 聚合物的标本. The participant will design cylindrical specimens to be loaded at three orientations (0, 45, 90 degrees) with respect to the AM build direction. These specimens will be printed using a variety of feedstocks (e.g. Pla, pvb, abs). Dynamic compression experiments will be conducted on the Kolsky bars in Dr. 金伯利的 研究实验室. As part of this research the REU participant will develop skills in computer modelling, 3D printing, high-speed imaging, digital image correlation, 以及MATLAB中的数据处理. 研究 outcomes include an improved understanding of the rate-dependent mechanical response of common AM polymer feedstocks and stress–strain data sets associated with these materials as a function of orientation relative to 构建方向.

教师指导:  Dr. Michaelann Tartis化学工程教授 

This research study will utilize previously developed hydrogel formulations that match the mechanical properties (stiffness) of human cranial tissues to study the role of cavitation and shear deformation in simulated traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Hydrogel formulations will be optimized to include tissue mimics for both anisotropic white matter properties and isotropic grey matter properties, for both optical and acoustic imaging during an impact of a cranial phantom in a drop tower apparatus.  Optimization for simultaneous imaging requires these materials to be transparent, contain tissue-like sound scatter, tissue-matched attenuation. REU学生 will acquire images of high-rate loading experiments using high-speed digital cameras 以及高帧率超声波.  To understand which impact circumstances may result in cavitation induced injuries in mild to severe traumatic brain injuries, several parameters will be varied: impact energy, head orientation, location of ultrasound transducer, soft tissue models, 3D printed skull geometries. 学生会 use MATLAB and ImageJ softwares to extract cavitation event number, location, persistence, 以及给定时间段内的频率. 学生将在学习中获得经验 and quantifying image datasets using image processing.  研究成果包括 new understanding of impact-induced traumatic brain injury conditions and insights 迈向缓解方法.

教师指导:  Dr. Chelsey Hargather，材料工程副教授

Additive manufacturing (AM or 3-D printing) is the process of fabricating objects 通过沉积材料层.  This project focuses on adding thermite to standard 3d打印机的长丝制造出一种高能墨水. 这种墨水可以被3d打印 an energetic material substrate, allowing for multi-point initiation, user-imposed control of the burn rate,/or burn profile modification in the energetic substrate.  Current research has demonstrated printing of an ABS filament with 20% Ba(NO₃)₂ (barium nitrate) + Al thermite into combustible geometries as shown in Figure 4.  The INTENSE REU participant will engage on this project by creating custom 3-D printer filament using a Filabot EX2 filament extruder, exploring variables to enhance and 调整能量释放. A test matrix with variables including base filament material, thermite system, mass loading, burn rate enhancer addition will be explored. 在 extrusion, the consistency of the material, in terms of filament diameter, will be 对每个材料系统进行评估.  性能最好的材料将被打印出来 使用标准的商用3d打印机(e.g. Prusa或Artillery)进行表征 燃烧速率和机械性能(如.g. 抗拉强度) 样品.  的活 participant will test the effectiveness of these energetic inks at initiating an energetic substrate through supervised combustion testing. 的活 participant will learn materials selection and design techniques through the generation 在材料矩阵中测试系统.  计划和安全技能 executing combustion testing, as well as materials characterization will be developed 由REU学生提供. 研究 outcomes include development of printability maps for thermite mixtures and insights for a priori materials property estimation for compositions 基于材料成分. 

 教师指导:  Dr. 柯蒂斯·奥马利，机械工程助理教授

教师指导:  Dr. 安德烈Zagrai，机械工程教授

The dramatic increase in the number, nature, operators of space missions in recent years reinforces the need for techniques and methods to assess and qualify the structural integrity of a vehicle or payload through all stages of spaceflight from launch to 轨道再入.  NMT has developed structural health monitoring techniques using electro-mechanical impedance of active piezoelectric sensors through undergraduate design teams and graduate research 项目.  The developed systems and experiments have been tested on high altitude 气球和亚轨道火箭飞行.  对这个项目进行研究的学生 will perform ground-testing of structural health monitoring systems investigating 结构接缝的完整性.  The goal of the project is to determine characteristic electro-mechanical impedance signatures of bolted and welded joints in pristine and “受损”条件下训练智能 检测损坏异常的算法.  该项目将利用以前开发的 hardware, as shown in Figure 5, the student will construct their own test setups 用于联合测试.  学生会 be exposed to the science of vibrations and signal processing as well as the technology of piezoelectric and acoustic sensors.  研究 outcomes include an understanding of system vibrational response change as a function of various damage states including weld failures or loose bolts