CAREER: Laser-Assisted Layered Manufacturing of 3D Mesoscale Structures With Embedded Micro Sensors and Actuators

这个教师早期职业发展（Career）奖的目标是将两个跨学科领域的研究活动与教育工作结合起来：分层制造和智能材料与结构。目前，关于整合这两个场的报道很少，特别是在中尺度（100毫米到10毫米）。此外，中尺度分层制造工艺的基本问题尚未得到很好的定义或研究。该项目涉及智能结构的中尺度分层制造，特别关注中尺度的热力学问题。该方法是将激光辅助形状沉积制造（SDM）和激光直接写入集成在一起，在中尺度上构建包含嵌入式微传感器和执行器的几何、成分和功能复杂的智能结构。分析模型、数值模拟和嵌入式微传感器将用于研究热力学现象。教育计划是通过开发整合分层制造、微制造、智能材料和结构等领域的新的跨学科元素，改善制造领域的现有课程。此外，将大力指导本科生和研究生，并使K-12学生、教师和行业接触到新的制造工艺和智能设备。将探讨吸引、留住和吸引来自代表性不足群体（妇女，特别是残疾学生）的学生进入制造业领域的策略。该研究计划将对工业产生重大影响，因为中尺度智能设备在技术上和经济上都可以用于许多应用。强调跨学科材料、实践经验、团队合作和高质量的教学将为下一代工程师提供更好的工程教育。

The goal of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award is to integrate research activities with educational efforts in two interdisciplinary fields: layered manufacturing and smart materials and structures. Currently, little has been reported on integrating these two fields, especially at the mesoscale (100 mm to 10 mm). In addition, fundamental issues for mesoscale layered manufacturing processes have not been well defined or investigated. This program involves research on mesoscale layered manufacturing of smart structures with a special focus on thermomechanical issues at the mesoscale. The approach is to integrate laser-assisted Shape Deposition Manufacturing (SDM) and Laser Direct Write to build, at the mesoscale, geometrically, compositionally, and functionally complex smart structures containing embedded micro sensors and actuators. Analytical models, numerical simulation, and embedded micro sensors will be used to investigate the thermomechanical phenomena. The educational plan is to improve the existing curriculum in the arena of manufacturing by developing new interdisciplinary elements that integrate the fields of layered manufacturing, micro-manufacturing, and smart materials and structures. Additionally, there will be substantial effort to mentor undergraduate and graduate students, and to expose K-12 students, teachers, and industries to novel manufacturing processes and smart devices. Strategies will be explored to attract, retain, and engage students from under-represented groups (women and especially students with disabilities) to manufacturing fields. The research program will have significant implications for industry in that mesoscale smart devices could become technologically and economically feasible for numerous applications. Emphasis on interdisciplinary materials, hands-on experience, teamwork, and high quality teaching and learning will better engineering education for next generation engineers.