Month: May 2019

Prof. Michael Yu Wang (HKUST): Material and Structure Design and Optimization in the Era of Additive Manufacturing

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Abstract: Additive manufacturing (AM) today affords complete freedom in controlling geometric details and material composition in three-dimensional fabrication. They provide new routes for manufacturing parts with structural properties in high-strength, light-weight, and exceptional performance. To further the adoption of the AM technologies, there is a need for “Design for Additive Manufacturing” methodologies and computer tools that empower designers to realize products that can fully capitalize on the AM capabilities.

Our approach to Design for Additive Manufacturing is an optimization-driven methodology for design exploration, synthesis and multi-disciplinary optimization. Our primary development is a topology optimization method integrated with analysis models for optimal material design of functional components. The required material properties are achieved by optimizing the important factors governing void geometry and material distribution. It generates structurally optimal design concepts from supplied information on loads, constraints and required product performance and manufacture conditions. The method has found a wide range of applications in the design of multi-functional structures, auxetic materials, and light-weight aero-structures. The applications for cellular structures and shellular materials will be particularly discussed.

Bio Sketch: Michael Yu Wang is a Chair Professor and the Founding Director of Robotics Institute at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He earned his PhD from Carnegie Mellon University and previously taught at University of Maryland, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and National University of Singapore. He has numerous professional honors–including Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award from Society of Automotive Engineers, 1994; LaRoux K. Gillespie Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award from Society of Manufacturing Engineers, 1995; Boeing–A.D. Welliver Faculty Summer Fellow, 1998; China State Natural Science Prize (Second Class) from the Ministry of Science & Technology of China (2012), and ASME Design Automation Award (2013) from ASME. He is a Fellow of ASME, HKIE, and IEEE.

Chih-Jen (Jackie) Sung Named Combustion Institute Fellow

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By: Eli Freund, Editorial Communications Manager, UConn School of Engineering 

The UConn School of Engineering is proud to announce that Mechanical Engineering Professor Chih-Jen Sung has been recognized as one of the 2019 Class of Fellows for The Combustion Institute.

Sung joins a class of 38 accomplished international scholars from industry, academia, and the public sector, and was recognized for “novel contributions to flame dynamics and structure, and development of rapid compression machines to enhance understanding of low-temperature chemistry.”

Read the School of Engineering announcement.

ME Students Revamp Hartford’s Historic Keney Clock Tower

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After a four-year vacation, the Historic Keney Clock is telling time again thanks to senior design project completed by Mechanical Engineering students seniors Henry Courchaine ’19, Garrett Murphy ’19, and Spencer Padget ’19 advised by Thomas Mealy. The project was a collaboration between UConn, the City of Hartford and Friends of Keney Park.

Through our Senior Design Program, directed by Prof. Vito Moreno, industrial sponsors put the bright UConn ME undergraduate students to work on a real-world problem that they are interested in researching, while reaping the benefits of our faculty’s experience and expertise. The renovation of the Historic Keney Clock Tower is one of the more than 65 senior design projects that Mechanical Engineering students worked on during the 2018-2019 academic year.

For additional information, please see the article in UConn Today or the press coverage, including: