Collaborative Research: Electromagnetic Pulse Cutting of Metallic Components

该奖项的目标是研究新颖的电磁切割技术，用于在机械辅助和无机械辅助的情况下由薄金属板和板材制造自由成形零件。这些加工称为电磁脉冲诱导切割和非接触磁切割，其基础是在电磁载荷作用下微裂纹的受控推进，在一种情况下是复合机械载荷。从概念上讲，这些过程类似于一个以微米为单位测量缺口的微型电磁拼图。其方法是：(A)通过建模和实验相结合的方法，建立机械和电磁力综合作用下断裂力学的理论基础；(B)在同时进行机械加载和主动样品冷却的情况下，通过实验优化受控电磁驱动裂纹扩展的条件；以及(C)开发用于演示机电驱动自由形状金属切割的实验试验台。如果成功，这项研究的好处将包括增加对机电切割过程本质的理解，最终创建实验室示范试验台，并最终导致技术转移和商业化；教育本科生和研究生；以及传播结果。拟议的研究结果将通过为商业化提供新的制造工艺来影响国内竞争。几名本科生将协助两所大学的本科生相关研究经验助学金资助的研究。少数族裔代表不足的本科生将被录用，他们在研究生学习方面表现出很强的潜力。将广泛传播该项目的成果，以增进具体和技术上的了解。这将通过教师和学生参与学术学会的会议和国家科学基金会土木、机械和制造业创新受赠者会议来完成。

The objective of this award is to research novel electromagnetic cutting techniques for freeformed fabrication of shaped parts from thin metallic sheet and plates with and without mechanical assistance. The processes, termed Electromagnetic Pulse Induced Cutting and Non-Contact Magnetic Cutting, are based on the controlled advance of a fine crack under an electromagnetic and in one case combined mechanical loading. Conceptually, the processes are akin to a microsized, electromagnetic jigsaw with a kerf measured in microns. The approach is (a) to develop a theoretical basis for fracture mechanics under combined mechanical and electromagnetic forces through a combination of modeling and experiment, (b) to experimentally optimize the conditions for controlled electromagnetically driven crack extension, with and without simultaneous mechanical loading and active sample cooling, and (c) to develop experimental testbeds for demonstrating electromechanical driven freeform metal cutting.If successful, the benefits of this research will include increased understanding of the nature of the electromechanical cutting processes culminating in creation of laboratory demonstration testbeds and leading eventually to technology transfer and commercialization; education of undergraduate and graduate students; and dissemination of results. The results of the proposed research will impact domestic competition by providing novel manufacturing processes for commercialization. Several undergraduate students will assist in the research funded by associated Research Experience for Undergraduates grants at both universities. Under-represented minority undergraduates will be hired who show strong potential for graduate pursuits. Results of the project will be broadly disseminated to enhance specific and technological understanding. This will be done both through faculty and student participation at meetings of learned societies and the National Science Foundation Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Grantees Conferences.