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Hierarchical gradient metals by additive manufacturing

Project description

Additive manufacturing research for complex hierarchical gradient metals design

Research on gradient-structured metals and alloys has shown promise in engineering and architecture, offering a solution to overcome the strength-ductility trade-offs found in traditional materials. However, due to the inherent limitations of current manufacturing methods, existing structural-gradient materials typically feature only simple patterns and structures. The ERC-funded HIGMAM project aims to develop a systematic process for designing hierarchical gradient microstructures for use with additive manufacturing, maximising the benefits of these new findings while addressing previous challenges. The project has found that additive manufacturing enables the creation of periodic and 3D gradient structures with more complex and hierarchical microstructural features.

Objective

Over the last decade, the steadily increasing research on gradient-structured metals and alloys has demonstrated great successes of this biological and nature-inspired concept to evade the strength-ductility trade-off dictating in regu-lar engineering materials. However, given the intrinsic limitations of conventional manufacturing methods, the currently engineered structural gradient materials are all featuring a linear pattern, usually from exterior to interior, with only simple structures of grain sizes, twin spaces, lamellae spaces, or combinations. A recent preliminary study of my research team accidentally discovered that additive manufacturing could produce periodic and 3D gradient microstructures with not only simple microstructure features, but also hierarchical ones, from grain size to sub-grain boundaries and even lattice distortions. The hierarchical gradient microstructure keeps the same level of high strength but doubles the failure strain compared to the conventional microstructures. This inspires us to systematically investigate the possibilities and boundaries of these new hierarchical gradient microstructures by additive manufacturing. Due to its extreme complexity across multiple scales and physics laws in correlating process, microstructure, and property of such new materials, we aim to develop a systematic approach for designing hierarchical gradient microstructures by using design of experiments, in-depth and multiscale characterization methods, multiphysics and multiscale numerical models, and data informatics. The intelligent integration of the physics-based and data-driven models will eventually boost the dimensionality, efficiency, and accuracy of the modeling approach for the design of the complicated hierarchical gradient microstructure in 3D. It will provide a powerful, digital and sustainable way for the design of new materials and/or processes and evaluation of material performance.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2022-STG

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Host institution

RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 433 381,00
Address
TEMPLERGRABEN 55
52062 Aachen
Germany

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Städteregion Aachen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 433 381,00

Beneficiaries (2)

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