NASA STTR 2018-I Solicitation

Proposal Summary

PROPOSAL NUMBER:
 18-1- T3.03-3883
SUBTOPIC TITLE:
 Bio-inspired Concepts for the Development of Power, Energy and Storage Technologies for Air and Space
PROPOSAL TITLE:
 Bio-inspired Cellular Material Optimization for the Design of Additively Manufactured Multi-Functional Lightweight Structures
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (SBC):
RESEARCH INSTITUTION (RI):
Name:   Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies
Name:   Arizona State University-Polytechnic
Street:  7755 South Research Drive, Suite 110
Street:  P.O. Box 876011
City:   Tempe
City:   Tempe
State/Zip:  AZ  85284-1816
State/Zip:   AZ 85287 - 6011
Phone:  (480) 813-4884
Phone:   (480) 727-4625


Principal Investigator (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Dhruv Bhate
dhruv.bhate@asu.edu
6075 S. Innovation Way West, Mesa, AZ 85212 - 6418
(765) 430-0186

Business Official (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Mr. Ward Rand
ward.rand@padtinc.com
7755 S. Research Drive, Suite 110 Tempe, AZ 85284 - 1816
(480) 813-4884
Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :
Begin: 2
End: 3
Technical Abstract

New technologies in imaging and manufacturing, including Additive Manufacturing (AM), are opening possibilities for mimicking biological structures in a way that has been unprecedented in human history. The primary innovation proposed here is the development of a tool that generates bio-inspired, parametrically optimized cellular materials for integration into the design of Additively Manufactured three-dimensional structures, and will have four main constituent parts:

  1. Natural Models: Here we will identify biological models comprised of cellular patterns that will be used to parameterize the bio-inspired optimization tool. 
  2. Parametrization: Using our identified natural models, we will measure and evaluate design parameters that will be used as inputs in the optimization tool. These parameters will fall into two categories: environmental (loading condition and thermal requirements) and design (thickness, curvature, length, and known material properties). 
  3. Optimization Tool: At the heart of the proposal is an optimization tool that will use the commercially available Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software as its solver engine. The tool will operate on the environmental and design parameters (including material properties) developed in the previous part to identify clear structure-function relationships in the context of multiple objectives such as light-weighting and minimizing deformation. The output of the tool will both be reconciled against the data from natural models as well as used to design test specimens for validation with AM
  4. Additive Manufacturing: Our use of AM will serve two-purposes: first, we will use AM to validate  the proposed design output from our bio-inspired optimization tool; second, we will ultimately use AM to manufacture bio-inspired parts, such as a heat exchangers or structural brackets that can be used in aerospace engineering.
Potential NASA Applications

Design and Manufacturing of high performance Materials for use in
- Heat Exchangers
- Lightweight structures
- Space debris resistant skins

Potential Non-NASA Applications

Design and Manufacturing of high performance materials for use in
- Lightweight structures
- Heat Exchangers
- Protective Armor
- Acoustic Liners
- Shock Absorption

Form Generated on 05/25/2018 11:55:56