Multi-physics modeling and topology optimization for metal coated polymer structures

随着全球制造业产出的持续增长，工业不断努力提高生产效率，同时平衡废物和排放的减少，通常是在政府法规的指导下。在金属涂层聚合物(MCP)领域，最近可以看到在保持良好机械性能的同时最大限度地减少原材料使用的例子。将MCP引入制造业的优势是广泛的，包括直接减少与运输相关的排放，与传统塑料部件相比延长产品寿命，以及任务关键型应用的可靠性，在这些应用中，减轻重量和最大硬度是必不可少的。拟议的工作由两项相互关联的研究工作组成，这两项工作都有共同的目标，即增加MCP技术在现有设计实践中的实施简便性。首先，创建能够预测MCP材料复杂行为的准确的多物理建模方法，将使设计师能够通过计算测试拟议设计的性能。显著减少了组件验证所需的物理原型数量。这项研究的第二个目标是为MCP产品的制造开发先进的设计方法，包括但不限于MCP拓扑优化和开发用于MCP的金属部件的重新设计过程。这一合作将包括一个为期三年的项目，包括三名全日制研究生和几个在通用动力任务系统公司的现场实习。

As global manufacturing output continues to rise, industry is continually striving for increasing efficiency of production while simultaneously balancing the reduction of waste and emissions, typically under the directive of government regulations. Recent examples of minimizing the use of raw materials while maintaining favorable mechanical performance can be seen in the fields of metal coated polymers (MCPs). The advantages of incorporating MCPs into the manufacturing industry are widespread, including directly reducing emissions associated with shipping, increased product lifespan compared to conventional plastic components, and reliability for mission critical applications, where reduced weight and maximum stiffness are imperative. The proposed work is comprised of two interconnected research endeavors that share the mutual goal of increasing the ease of implementation of MCP technology into existing design practices. Firstly, creating accurate multi-physics modelling methods to be able to predict the complex behavior of MCP materials will allow designers to computationally test the performance of proposed designs. significantly reducing the number of physical prototypes required for component validation. The second goal of this research is to develop advanced design methodologies for the manufacturing of MCP products, including but not limited to MCP topology optimization and developing the process of the redesign of metal components for use with MCPs. The partnership will feature a three-year project, with three full-time graduate students and several on-site internships at General Dynamics Mission Systems.