About Smart Group
SMART is a dynamic and innovative team committed to Advanced Manufacturing of Smart Materials and Structures (SMART). Our primary focus is on advanced manufacturing technologies to pioneer the design and fabrication of multifunctional materials and structures.
At SMART, we understand that the future of manufacturing is not just about producing goods, but also about creating intelligent, adaptable, and responsive materials and structures that can revolutionize industries and future products. Therefore, we aim to push the boundaries of what's possible, enabling breakthroughs in fields ranging from aerospace and automotive to healthcare and beyond. Our focus on innovation, efficiency, and sustainability drives us to explore new avenues and push the envelope of technological progress, thus making a meaningful impact and shaping the future of manufacturing worldwide.
Additionally, we have established a scientific network that organizes a series of events (e.g., webinars, conferences, and workshops) focused on Advanced Manufacturing of Smart Materials and Structures (AM-SMART). For further details, please visit our Website and LinkedIn page.
Selective projects
Additive Manufacturing of Multimaterial Structures
Multimaterial 3D printing offers unique opportunities for designing and developing products with functionalities that cannot be achieved otherwise. There are several potential applications for such structures. The medical field stands out due to the adaptability of this technology, which is employed in various medical devices. Typically, existing 3D-printed products consist of only one material. However, the concept of a multi-material component can provide advantages by combining different properties in a single part. In this project, a multi-material component with tunable functional performance is the aim to achieve. For that, it is necessary to select proper alloys, and printing process parameters, and study the bonding quality and their interface depth from the materials perspective, in order to design a real case for AM at the final stage is foreseen to be achieved through this project.
Additive Manufacturing of Ternary Shape Memory Alloys
Additive manufacturing of shape memory materials offers a distinctive opportunity for the design and creation of intelligent structures with superelastic and shape memory characteristics. Our research focuses on the additive manufacturing of shape memory alloys (SMAs) utilizing laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and laser metal deposition (LMD) techniques. In doing so, we place particular emphasis on the evaluation of process parameters and their influence on the functional performance of the 3D printed components. Furthermore, we explore the effects of introducing additional elements, such as NiTiX, on the thermomechanical and functional properties of the novel alloy.
4D Printing of Smart Multifunctional Structures
Additive manufacturing of functional materials has garnered significant attention in the past decade. This technology facilitates the fabrication of complex-shaped products, including architected structures. Our focus lies in the development of smart and multifunctional structures capable of reverting to their original shape after deformation, driven by external stimuli, a cutting-edge technology known as 4D printing. Additionally, we possess the capability to create novel materials and composites tailored for 3D printing, such as printing filaments.
Additive Manufacturing of Shape Memory Alloys for Elastocaloric Applications
The utilisation of Ni-Ti materials for their elastocaloric properties in refrigeration systems is constrained by the inherently low heat transfer characteristics of commercially available bulk Ni-Ti. The employment of 3D printing to fabricate lattice structures presents a potential solution, as it can significantly enhance the heat transfer surface area while concurrently reducing the load-bearing surface area. A major challenge, however, lies in the optimisation of both the additive manufacturing process and the subsequent post-processing parameters, in order to strike an effective balance between thermal conductivity and mechanical performance. This study investigates the feasibility of employing 3D-printed architected Ni-Ti materials for this specific refrigeration application.
