Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Additive Manufacturing Of Nanomaterial Based Hierarchical Structures, John Michael Gardner

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Aerospace systems demand high performance materials that minimize weight while functioning under extreme environmental conditions. One way to meet these requirements is by incorporating hierarchical structures into part design. These structures are known to impart unique mechanical properties not characteristic of the bulk material such as high strength and toughness. It is difficult, however, to manufacture these structures due to the inherent trade-off between part size and feature resolution in traditional manufacturing processes. Additive manufacturing offers a potential solution to these issues by allowing material placement directly at desired locations. This loosens geometric constraints and allows for multiple contiguous materials …