Publications

Selected Publications

Tu, R., Sprague, E., and Sodano, H.A., Additive Manufacturing (2020).

Precipitation Printing towards Diverse Materials, Mechanical Tailoring and Functional Devices

Description: This is the foundation paper of the solvent-based additive manufacturing process, precipitation printing, that I developed during my PhD. The work decouples printability from melt rheology and ink rheology, enabling the deposition of engineering polymers with tunable microstructures through in situ phase separation.

2. Tu, R. and Sodano, H.A., Additive Manufacturing (2021).

Additive Manufacturing of High-Performance Vinyl Ester Resin via Direct Ink Writing with UV-Thermal Dual Curing

Description: This additive manufacturing technology paper presents a modified UV-assisted direct ink writing setup for thermosets, and a UV-thermal dual curing approach for optimized mechanical performance. The setup uses a dark zone near the nozzle with continuous UV irradiation on the printed structure, enabling in situ curing but reducing nozzle clogging.

3. Tu, R., Kim, H.C. and Sodano, H.A., ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2023).

Additive Manufacturing of High-Temperature Thermoplastic Polysulfone with Tailored Microstructure via Precipitation Printing

Description: This paper extends the precipitation printing platform to aerospace-grade, high-temperature thermoplastic polysulfone, showcasing the tunability of material microstructure and performance through controlled solvent interactions and deposition parameters.

4. Tu, R., Kim, H.C., Baabdullah, O.A. and Sodano, H.A., Advanced Functional Materials (2024).

Alignment Controlled Aramid Nanofiber‐Assembled Films

Description: This paper investigates the capability of using direct ink writing (DIW) to fabircate high-performance films with aligned microstructure after nanomaterial self-assembly. The controlled alignment and anisotropic through this scalable additive manufacturing process have been studied comprehensively.

5. Tu, R., Kim, H.C. and Sodano, H.A., Materials & Design (2025).

Precipitation 3D Printing of All-Aramid Materials for High-Strength, Heat-Resistant Applications

Description: In this work, ultrahigh-performance all-aramid 3D structures have been achieved for the first time, by integrating precipitation printing with the aramid nanofiber deprotonation-reprotonation process. Flame retardant, heat resistant and strong aerospace components made of all-aramid have been demonstrated.

6. Tu, R., Delplanche, R.A., Tobalske, B.W., Inman, D.J., Sodano, H.A., Bioinspiration and Biomimetics (2024).

3D Printed Feathers with Embedded Aerodynamic Sensing

Description: This publication represents the system-level application of multiple additive manufacturing strategies. I designed and fabricated artificial feathers with multiscale hierarchical vane structures which replicate the aerodynamic behaviour of natural plumage. Beyond biomimicry, I also integrated dynamic strain sensors into the artificial feathers and demonstrated adaptive aerodynamic sensing useful for bio-inspired flight control, as well as biomechanical study on live birds. This paper illustrates how manufacturing-driven material design can lead to functional, lightweight systems. It received the Ephrahim Garcia Best Paper Award (ASME SMASIS 2025).

All Journal Publications

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

Tu, R. and Sodano, H.A., 2021. Additive Manufacturing of High-Performance Vinyl Ester Resin via Direct Ink Writing with UV-Thermal Dual Curing. Additive Manufacturing, 46, p.102180.

2020

Conference Presentations

Tu, R., Delplanche, R.A., Gamble, L.L., Inman, D.J., Tobalske, B.W., Sodano, H.A. Bio-Inspired, 3D Printed Feather Transducers for in Flight Aerodynamic Force and Vibration Sensing. SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, March 25–28, 2024, Long Beach, CA.
Tu, R. and Sodano, H.A. Stretchable Piezoelectric Polymer Blend for Dynamic Stress and Strain Sensing. SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, March 13–16, 2023, Long Beach, CA.
Tu, R., Sprague, E. and Sodano, H.A. Additive Manufacturing of High-β Phase Poly (vinylidene fluoride) via Precipitation Printing. SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, March 7–10, 2022, Long Beach, CA.
Tu, R. and Sodano, H.A. Direct Ink Writing of High Mechanical Performance Vinyl Ester-Fumed Silica Nanocomposites with Ultraviolet-Thermal Dual Curing. AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum, Jan. 3–7, 2022, San Diego, CA.

Patents

Tu, R., Ronzan, M., Sinibaldi, E., Mazzolai, B. Device for the autonomous transplantation of seedling into the ground. Patent application filed, Italy, 2025. Application number has not yet been published.

Sodano, H.A., Tu, R., Sprague, E.C. Methods for forming three-dimensional polymeric articles. United States patent US11986993B2 and US20240359395A1.

Bo, S., Tu, R., Li, Z., Zhang, J., Zhang, X., Zhou, Y. High-precision powder distribution device and method. China patent CN110849453B.