At the University of South Carolina on May 18, for the next-generation aerospace system proposed by NASA, the research team of the University of South Carolina will use advanced computational simulation, manufacturing processes and assembly technology, designed to use carbon fiber/thermoplastic polymer To process the fuselage of urban air vehicles.
As NASA created the next generation of aerospace systems, NASA has passed a four-year, $5.7 million University Leadership Initiative (ULI), and the University of South Carolina College of Engineering and Computing (University of South Carolina College of Engineering and Computing) became one of the five members participating in the 2020 ULI project.
The University of South Carolina, with the support of Boise State University, the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), Benedict College and multiple industry partners, will focus on changing the future of aerospace vehicles through the use of atomic, fuselage, and space methods Exterior. They will completely change the materials and technology used to manufacture aircraft, the production speed and cost of parts, and the overall strength and durability of aircraft.
Michel van Tooren, former head of the Center for Multifunctional Materials and Structures at the University of South Carolina and founder of ULI, said: "This is a new level of simulation and a new way of manufacturing. No drilling, fasteners or bolts are required. , Nuts and washers, they can be fused together by using thermoplastics at all levels of the structure. If successful, this process will make urban air transportation a part of everyday life."
Boise`s Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering is led by Assistant Professor Eric Jankowski, who will begin research at the atomic level and use molecular dynamics to characterize thermoplastic polymerization The physical behavior of substances and their blends. Professor Jeff Wiggins and his USM team will use Boise's in-depth understanding of polymer behavior to develop a process that combines polymers and carbon fibers to form thermoplastic tapes. The tape will be handed over to the research team at the University of South Carolina. They will use automatic fiber placement, continuous fiber 3D printing and induction welding technology to convert thermoplastic tape into aircraft propellers and fuselages.
Wout De Backer and Darun Barazanchy are partners of the School of Engineering and Computing at the University of South Carolina. Barazanchy will focus on the computational aspects of research and develop a software that can simulate the structure of magnetic tape in a numerical environment. De Backer will bring his expertise in continuous fiber 3D printing, which is a cutting-edge process developed at the academy, giving its 3D printing products unparalleled strength.
NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) created the ULI program to obtain innovative ideas from American universities. The $32.8 million ULI has five team leaders, including the University of South Carolina, North Carolina State University of Agricultural Technology, Oklahoma State University, Stanford University, and the University of Delaware. ULI will allow these universities to establish their own teams and develop their own research paths, hoping that their research results will support NASA’s ARMD-related research.