CAREER: Fundamental Studies on Ultrasonic Vibration Assisted Laser Surface Modification (UV-LSM) of Materials

该学院早期职业发展（Career）基金为新型超声振动辅助激光工艺的发展提供资金，用于先进材料的表面改性，包括轻合金、金属基复合材料（MMCs）和多孔陶瓷。所提出的加工方法有望在轻合金中实现细化的晶粒结构，在金属基复合材料中实现更深的陶瓷增强，以及在多孔陶瓷中实现更致密的无裂纹表面。本研究项目将探讨激光操作和超声振动对这些材料微观结构和性能发展的影响。微观结构特征，如晶粒尺寸（轻合金），颗粒渗透深度（MMCs）和渗透深度（多孔陶瓷）将采用实验和计算相结合的方法进行表征。这些微观结构特征对改性表面的硬度、强度、耐蚀/耐磨性和残余应力状态的影响将被系统地研究。拟议活动的主要重点将是建立这些先进材料的加工-微观结构-性能关系。如果成功，该项目将显著推进激光表面工程的最新技术，以改善材料的表面性能。这些新的超声振动辅助激光表面改性工艺的发展将加速表面改性轻合金、mmc和多孔陶瓷在更广泛的应用中需要提高性能。此外，拟议的项目将为不同群体的本科生和研究生提供独特的实践机会，为他们未来在这一重要的制造业研究领域的职业生涯做好准备。该研究项目的结果将通过期刊出版物、会议报告和会议记录广泛传播给学术界、研究界和制造业。

This Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant provides funding for the development of novel ultrasonic vibration-assisted laser processes for the surface modifications of advanced materials, including light alloys, metal matrix composites (MMCs), and porous ceramics. The proposed processing approach is expected to achieve refined grain structure in light alloys, deeper penetration of ceramic reinforcement in metal matrix composites, and denser crack-free surfaces in porous ceramics. The research project will investigate the effect of combined laser operation and ultrasonic vibrations on the development of microstructure and properties of these materials. The microstructural features such as grain size (light alloys), depth of particle penetration (MMCs), and depth of infiltration (porous ceramics) will be characterized using combination of experimental and computational approaches. The effect of these microstructural features on hardness, strength, corrosion/wear resistance, and residual stress state of the modified surfaces will be systematically investigated. Major emphasis of the proposed activities will be on establishing processing-microstructure-properties relationships for these advanced materials. If successful, the proposed project will significantly advance the state-of-the-art in laser surface engineering for improving surface properties of materials. The development of these new ultrasonic vibration assisted laser surface modification processes will accelerate the utilization of surface modified light alloys, MMCs, and porous ceramics in wider applications requiring improved performance. In addition, the proposed project will provide unique hands-on-experience opportunities to the diverse groups of undergraduate and graduate students to prepare them for future career in this important field of manufacturing research. The results of this research project will be widely disseminated to the academic, research, and manufacturing community through journal publications, conference presentations, and proceedings.