Research

Additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing, often referred to as 3D printing, is a revolutionary manufacturing process that has transformed traditional production methods. It operates on the principle of layer-by-layer material deposition to create intricate and customized objects. This technology has gained immense popularity across various industries, including aerospace, healthcare, automotive, and consumer goods. We explore laser, electron beam, and electric arc based additive manufacturing processes for metallic materials.

Fusion welding

Fusion welding is a crucial process in metal fabrication, joining materials through the application of intense heat until they melt and fuse together. This method is widely employed in industries ranging from construction to aerospace due to its efficiency and strength. Common fusion welding techniques include arc welding, MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding, TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding, and oxy-acetylene welding. Fusion welding's primary advantage lies in creating strong, durable bonds with minimal material loss. 

Modeling and machine learning

In the last two decades, significant efforts have been made to quantitatively understand the role of the manufacturing process parameters on product attributes using emerging digital tools such as mechanistic models, machine learning, and digital twins. The mechanistic models seek to gain an improved understanding of heat transfer, liquid metal flow, and mass transfer to calculate the important metallurgical variables that affect the microstructure, properties, and defect formation in components based on phenomenological understanding. When scientific understanding is missing but data are available, machine learning can provide quantitative relations between the process variables and product attributes. The combined approach of experiments and the use of digital tools is critical for controlling microstructure and properties and reducing common defects.