The School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Seminar Series, “Design of Manufacturable Variable Stiffness Laminates” Presented by Dr. Narasimha Boddeti

About the event

Design of Manufacturable Variable Stiffness Laminates

Presented by Dr. Narasimha Boddeti, Berry Assistant Professor, School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University

Abstract:

Recent advances in multi-axis additive manufacturing and advanced fiber placement are enabling realization of fiber reinforced composites (FRCs) with complex microstructural variations, e.g., via controlled orientation and deposition of fiber-filled polymers or pre-impregnated tapes. Such FRCs, commonly referred to as variable stiffness laminates (VSLs), can unlock the full potential of FRCs and lead to lighter, stiffer, stronger, and more durable structures. We have developed an efficient, robust design framework based on multiscale topology optimization for VSLs in 2D, 3D, and 2.5D (i.e., laminated shells) that are readily manufacturable, an aspect that is seldom ignored in literature. The talk will also present ongoing research in the m3 Lab and future directions.

Biography:

Narasimha is an assistant professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from IIT, Kharagpur, India (2002-2006) and doctoral degree from University of Colorado, Boulder, USA (2009-2014). He was a postdoctoral scholar at CU Boulder and Singapore University of Technology and Design before joining WSU in 2020. His PhD research focused on adhesion mechanics of graphene while his current research focuses on developing design automation methods for additive manufacturing, mechanics of soft composites, and modeling powder-based processing. His research interests include topology optimization, additive manufacturing, computational mechanics, architected materials, and soft robotics.