GOALI: Physics-Informed Artificial Intelligence for Parallel Design of Metal Matrix Composites and their Additive Manufacturing
Daniel Miracle
Air Force Research Laboratory
Matthew Jacobsen
Air Force Research Laboratory
This Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future (DMREF) research enables physics-informed artificial intelligence (AI) design of metal materials reinforced with ceramic particles (metal matrix composites) and their additive manufacturing (3D printing). Such materials can exhibit superior mechanical performances at higher temperatures relative to the same metal material without ceramic reinforcements. Additive manufacturing provides unprecedented fabrication capability for high performance, lightweight structural components made from metal matrix composite materials. However, the design of metal matrix composites and their additive manufacturing is largely performed with expensive, time consuming trial and error methodologies; quality assurance of such parts is similarly challenged. AI-guided design and qualification of materials and their manufacturing can significantly lower the time and cost barriers to such technologies.
The basic research performed in this program will fill critical gaps to enable AI discovery and optimization of these materials and their manufacturing toward reducing deployment times and costs by half, to meet the Materials Genome Initiative vision. The outreach programs and diversity, equity, and inclusion plans include AI manufacturing course curricula spanning kindergarten - graduate which include example problems and tools developed from this program. Atlanta and Salt Lake City high school teachers and students from underrepresented minority populations will receive hands-on experience and instruction in these curricula. The research maintains and expands robust programs supporting fundamental research in alloys, ceramics, and their composites; support modalities for free-flowing interactions among universities (Georgia Tech and Utah), start-up ventures (GOALI partner Elementum 3D), and national laboratories (Air Force Research Laboratory); expand investments in automated materials manufacturing research to ensure the U.S. is the leader in the field by 2030; all using, when appropriate, computational methods, data analytics, machine learning, and autonomous experimental 3D characterization.
The basic research performed in this program will fill critical gaps to enable AI discovery and optimization of these materials and their manufacturing toward reducing deployment times and costs by half, to meet the Materials Genome Initiative vision. The outreach programs and diversity, equity, and inclusion plans include AI manufacturing course curricula spanning kindergarten - graduate which include example problems and tools developed from this program. Atlanta and Salt Lake City high school teachers and students from underrepresented minority populations will receive hands-on experience and instruction in these curricula. The research maintains and expands robust programs supporting fundamental research in alloys, ceramics, and their composites; support modalities for free-flowing interactions among universities (Georgia Tech and Utah), start-up ventures (GOALI partner Elementum 3D), and national laboratories (Air Force Research Laboratory); expand investments in automated materials manufacturing research to ensure the U.S. is the leader in the field by 2030; all using, when appropriate, computational methods, data analytics, machine learning, and autonomous experimental 3D characterization.