Augmenting Physics-Based Design and Multi-Physics Based Manufacturing with Data Driven Models to Manufacture Advanced Composites Structures with Automated Fiber Placement

Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) is one of the most complex manufacturing processes used to fabricate lightweight advanced air vehicle structures with superior qualities. Efficient manufacturing and new process planning techniques for AFP are needed for composite manufacturing of lightweight structures to support NASA programs such as the Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) project, Higher Aspect Ratio Optimal Wing activity, and the Hi-Rate Composites Aircraft Manufacturing (HiCAM) project to address current requirements for manufacturing aerospace vehicles. Today, to create structures with advanced composites, we carry out investigations in Mechanics (Design) to understand response in terms of strength and stiffness, and Multi-physics (Manufacturing) to understand the relationships between process parameters and their influence on mechanical properties. This proposal tests the scientific hypothesis that there exist capabilities to propose new composite structures incorporating a multitude of lifecycle attributes, such as design and manufacturing, based on a new framework that adds a data dependent dimension to physics-based ones. This will be accomplished through the following methods/techniques: (1) Assessment of Physics and Data-Driven Design Methods by surveying the literature and selecting adequate models, (2) Development of workflow platform to enable data-driven composites, and (3) Implementation and Validation through data collection, manufacturing, and testing of a selected design according to the developed framework. Outcomes of the project could have significant impact on composites fabrication at NASA and the aerospace industry here in South Carolina.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.