Truss Structure CAD Modeling and Manufacturing

 

Funding Source: NSF and industry

 

Students Needed: 1 either MS or PhD

 

Advisor: Dr. David Rosen

 

 

Truss structure can be used to strengthen or stiffen parts or to make parts much more light-weight. We have developed software for designing and modeling truss structure so that improved aerospace and automotive parts can be designed. We fabricate designed parts with rapid prototyping equipment since the resulting part geometries are very complex. Designing parts with truss structure enables unprecedented part performance to be realized.

Work on this project focuses on computational and software methods for generating good quality truss structures. Such structures start with a good mesh. The research work involves developing a new meshing method that can be used with any truss structure. The method will be integrated with our truss structure layout software. To facilitate technology transfer to industry sponsors, we want to embed the meshing and truss structure software into the Unigraphics NX CAD system. This software is written in C++. You will also get the opportunity to learn how to use our Stereolithography rapid prototyping equipment to fabricate some of your designs. The figure below shows the long term objective of designing and fabricating ultralightweight automotive structural components.