Surface Engineering for Advanced 3D Printed Airframe Materials

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Recent advances in aerospace engineering involve both enhanced aerodynamic design and use of advancedmaterials. This project focuses on advanced materials and their durability but also enables use of thesematerials as test structures for validating aerodynamic designs. More specifically, we will study 3D printedparts that will be used for wind tunnel testing. These parts are often damaged from 'hangar rash' that issurface-related damage from normal handling. To overcome this, the parts will be electroplated with thinmetallic coatings. An array of testing and characterization will be done to evaluate the effectiveness of a fewcandidate coatings in terms of their bond strength, scratch resistance and surface finish characteristics.Altogether, the project will also examine the effect of process variables on the properties and effectiveness ofthe coatings. The impact of this research will be increased durability of 3D printed structures used for windtunnel testing, leading to cost savings and less environmental impact. Secondly, this research will have benefitof understanding surface engineering required for 3D printed parts that may eventually be used in a realaerospace application.