This NSF award established the Louisiana Consortium for Innovation in Manufacturing and Materials (CIMM), which brought together Louisiana academic institutions to focus on advanced manufacturing and related materials research. The Science and Technology Thrusts (STTs) of CIMM address underlying technologies in two areas: 1) STT1 (Multiscale metal forming and pattern replication) addresses challenges in high throughput manufacturing of components with features ranging from microns to millimeters and beyond with high fidelity and repeatability; 2) STT2 (Laser-based 3D metal printing) focuses on adaptive manufacturing of application-specific structures with a high degree of geometric and microstructural complexity and variability.  The unifying scientific challenge for these STTs is the multiscale nature of the underlying phenomena, which span multiple length scales (nanometers to millimeters and beyond) and time scales (nanoseconds to hours).

The vision of CIMM was to propel the State of Louisiana to a leading and sustainable position in advanced manufacturing and related materials research and development. CIMM led research, education, and workforce development relevant to manufacturing and materials in Louisiana by building strong partnerships with industries, national laboratories, educational institutions, and private and government agencies to boost the economic development of the State. The results of this project have the possibility of making an impact on socio-economic issues such as new materials and advanced manufacturing. During the course of the project, CIMM senior investigators generated over 143 peer-reviewed journal papers and delivered over 253 conference presentations. 

Under STT1, CIMM researchers successfully combined materials characterization across length scales, mechanical testing from the nano and micro scales to the meso and macro scales, materials synthesis, and multiscale physics-based simulations to address key issues impacting mechanical integrity of solid/solid interfaces and plastic deformation at meso to micro scales. Mechanical testing efforts include meso/micro scale testing in-situ scanning electron microscopes where real-time observations on small specimens were made while mechanical response data were collected. Physics-based simulations encompass all length scales, from the atomistic to the continuum, including Density Functional Theory (DFT), Molecular Dynamics (MD), Phase Field (PF), Dislocation Dynamics (DD), and crystal plasticity and continuum Finite Element Analysis (FEA). CIMM researchers have devised/implemented new mechanical testing protocols, acquired new data, developed new interatomic potentials for metal/ceramic systems, and gained new understanding and insights on solid/solid interfacial mechanical integrity and meso/micro scale plasticity as applied to meso/micro scale metal forming. CIMM researchers also combined experimentation with multiscale simulations following the spirit and practice of Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME). 

Under STT2, CIMM researchers generated scientific insights into the highly dynamic Selective Laser Manufacturing (SLM) and powder-making processes. Thermophysical properties of nickel/titanium alloys were obtained through containerless levitation measurements and multi-scale simulations; high-speed probing of SLM dynamical processes were carried out using both ultrafast microscopy and synchrotron methods on several aluminum and titanium alloys; and a whole suite of multiscale computational modeling was performed to study the processes of laser melting of powder bed, solidification, and microstructure evolution. The outcomes enable high-quality metallic parts to be made by laser-based additive manufacturing. 

Under CIMM, a statewide Core User Facilities (CUF) was established. CUF brought together key manufacturing and research equipment facilities within one portal that promotes productivity and collaboration across Louisiana campuses and industry users. CUF provided solutions and improvement to the research infrastructure in Louisiana by providing easy access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure and capabilities in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials.

CIMM made an enormous impact on the lives of undergraduate and graduate students who attended our programs and were trained through the program for jobs in materials and advanced manufacturing. CIMM helped prepare them for careers in science, engineering and technology and being a part of the diverse, technologically savvy workforce. Thousands of middle and high school students were directly impacted by CIMM-sponsored programs. Several schools comprising high levels of underrepresented minorities were reached through public lectures and events organized by CIMM faculty and students. Community College students and teachers also participated in workshops, summer camps, and Research Experience for Undergraduates and Research Experience for Teachers (REU/RET) programs. As an example, three female engineering students worked with Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired to 3D print eyeglass frames for students. This was showcased in a report to Congress prepared by NSF Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering (CEOSE).  CIMM held and participated in open houses for middle and high school students, and its researchers gave talks and demonstrations for the general public. CIMM has introduced 10 new statewide courses/modules in materials and advanced manufacturing and hosted 5 industry-academia workshops.  Twenty-nine graduate students and forty-three undergraduate students have graduated. CIMM also supported a total of 96 REU students and 81 RET teachers throughout the project, of which 40% were women and 35% URM. In addition, the Speaking of Science program reached over 44,000 K-12 students. These efforts expand society's knowledge and captures the public imagination.

Last Modified: 09/16/2021
Modified by: Michael M Khonsari