Digital Twin and Thread Ecosystem for Automated ICME and Modeling Workflow Optimization

MDMi Modeling Hub (MMH) aims to integrate modeling, testing, design, and manufacturing data into a digital ecosystem, accelerating the transition from ideation to implementation. By leveraging a robust and automated data management strategy, MMH will advance ICME and Digital Twin concepts, enabling experimental and virtual data to seamlessly drive model optimization and accuracy. In industries where production costs are high and performance is critical, benefits of modeling can be seen over the entire product lifecycle, reducing development costs and time-to-market. The value of modeling is irrefutable and capable of broad organizational impact, yet challenges in standardizing usage and understanding limitations have hindered effective implementation and widespread adoption. Further, in the absence of data management, the full potential of modeling is never realized. Some large organizations have developed tools to meet limited, highly specialized needs, the complex and resource-intensive nature of modeling creates a high barrier of entry that deters many organizations. There is a gap in commercial software that can simplify and automate multistep modeling and data storage processes. MMH has been designed to fill this gap. In Phase 1, a prototype software framework will demonstrate a scalable, interoperable, and traceable modeling solution that allows the creation of simplified and standardized workflows that integrate diverse user-developed models (ranging from physics to ML-based models, supporting numerical, text, and traceability data). MMH’s cloud-compatible approach will offer a holistic solution that can be configured to accelerate innovation throughout an organization. MMH forwards NASA goals of improving accessibility of data and analysis tools to drive collaboration to advance modeling. MMH will directly augment research within NASA’s Materials and Structures Division and significantly further NASA’s 2040 Vision.

MMH software will support NASA directives, particularly advancing materials and structures technologies. MMH’s focus on multiscale modeling, data integration, and automated workflow creation aligns with NASA’s goals to accelerate the development of Advanced Propulsion systems for subsonic transport vehicles. By addressing critical gaps identified in NASA’s 2040 Vision, including the need for integrated computational and experimental approaches, MMH will help bridge the gap between physics-based and data-driven modeling, allowing for more rapid and accurate prediction of material properties and performance. The software’s ability to integrate both experimental and virtual data will support NASA’s work in developing advanced materials with improved thermomechanical performance, environmental durability, and reliability needed for next-generation propulsion systems. MMH’s cloud-compatible, database-agnostic capabilities will enable seamless data management and model integration, critical for NASA’s efforts to incorporate modeling across multiple scales and disciplines. MMH will come with a range of modeling algorithms to demonstrate its ability to support diverse data and modeling types. This includes NASA-developed MAC/GMC, Machine Learning Surrogate, and MicroNet models – tools routinely used within NASA that span physics-based modeling to ML-based image analysis. In combination with the ability to add new models and create new user-defined multiscale modeling workflows for general use, MMH will augment existing efforts across NASA, from design to materials/structures research. Further, MMH’s database backbone leverages NASA’s past and ongoing efforts within the Material Data Management Consortium and at Glenn Research Center, where a universal database schema to support modeling data is under development. Integrating this schema within MMH will allow immediate and significant NASA impact, furthering their 2040 Vision and next generation propulsion technologies. MMH software will offer significant advantages across diverse industries, particularly where production costs are high, and material performance is critical. By integrating multiscale modeling and data management, MMH can benefit the entire product lifecycle—from initial design and materials selection to the impact of manufacturing processes, in-service monitoring, safety alterations, and end-of-life/recycling options. As a result, industries including aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing stand to benefit greatly from MMH. MMH will standardize, automate, and transform complex, multi-step, multi-software processes into simplified, easy-to-use guided workflows, making data-driven modeling, decision-making, and innovation broadly accessible to organizations of all sizes. MMH’s user-friendly interface will empower subject matter experts to create workflows that enable non-expert users to confidently and accurately perform modeling processes as intended. Further, MMH’s cloud capabilities and database-agnostic capabilities will provide flexibility and scalability to seamlessly integrate with existing data sources, modeling tools, and procedures. This will promote adoption, allowing MMH to adapt to the needs of the organization, rather than requiring the organization to adapt to MMH. While MMH was originally conceived for materials modeling, multiscale modeling is not exclusive to materials and is becoming increasingly common in biomedical, environmental, chemical, and energy applications. In fact, digital twins are being adopted in other domains (e.g., personalized medicine), but still require the same key functionalities that MMH is designed to support. MMH will represent a truly universal modeling platform, allowing users to create and design their own unique and extensible analysis workflows. MMH will offer an integrated solution for organizations to improve R&D efficiency, productivity, traceability, time-to-market, process optimization, and more.

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.