Research Vision: Advanced Manufacturing for Sustainable Solutions in the 21st Century

The overarching research vision of our group is dedicated to the advanced manufacturing, and characterizations that redefine how we conceive, create, and optimize lightweight structures, and multi-materials while advancing the field of energy materials. I envision a future where manufacturing processes are not only highly efficient but also sustainable, producing structures and devices that are efficient, lightweight, and durable. The goal of my ongoing research is to lead research initiatives that bridge the gap between academia and industry, translating innovative ideas into real-world applications. Through cross-disciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge research, and impactful teaching, I aim to inspire the next generation of engineers and designers to think beyond current boundaries and shape a more sustainable future. To accomplish this goal, my research vision leverages:

1. Design and optimization

2. Advanced manufacturing:  additive manufacturing (metal: LPBF, DED), DLP, FFF 

3. Characterization techniques, and 

4. Scale-up components for real-world applications 

(Website under development) 

We are always looking for active collaborations. 

Current research focuses on additive manufacturing, processing, and characterizations of advanced/ functional materials; length-scale spanning bulk- to nano-scale. 

Following are the active research areas:

Additive Manufacturing:

1. Fused deposition modeling/fabrication and SLA based manufacturing: 

i) Custom Equipment/tool design for functional materials printing

ii) Printing and mechanical/chemical/microstructural characterization to investigate process parameters-structure-property relationship 

2. Selective laser melting: i) Process parameters optimization and printing of advanced high-temperature engine components ii) Process parameters optimizations for Bio-compatible materials, iii) New functional materials design using laser-assisted manufacturing

3. Direct Energy deposition: i) Ultra high-temperature materials manufacturing for gas turbines, ii) Analytical/semi-empirical model development

Understanding Phenomena at Bulk to Nano-scale:

1. In-situ TEM/SEM study: To reveal micro/nano-scale phenomena in additive manufactured materials under thermal and mechanical strain field 

2. Classical Molecular Dynamics simulations:

i) Nanomechanics of 3D printed Nanomaterials and nanocomposities: Tensile, compressive, bending, and Indentation testing

ii) Ultra-fast laser materials interactions from MD simulation  

iii) Materials processing/radiation simulation at the nanoscale  

3. Bulk scale: Mechanical, thermal, coupled thermo-electric phenomena 

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The primary goals of ongoing projects are:

    1. Additive manufacturing of test specimens and components

    2. Development of process maps using High-throughput and Low-throughput characterizations

    3. Mechanical Testing and microstructural characterization of printed components to validate the process maps

    4. Development of analytical models to predict Process parameters

The followings are the two primary ongoing projects: 

    1. Additive Manufactured Supercritical CO2 Heat to Power Solution

    2. Additive Manufacturing of Ultrahigh Temperature Refractory Metal Alloys

These studies will allow comprehending of inherent microstructural defects such as keyholes, lack of fusion, balling, etc., in additive manufactured components and their effect on physical properties. The ultimate goal of these projects is to manufacture components for aerospace applications with desired functionality/properties.

Optimization and Printing of Supercritical Gas Turbines Rotors