The Manufacturing and Industrial Systems focus group concentrates engineering efforts
in solving industrial and manufacturing problems. Example problems include planning
and modeling the manufacturing system, forecasting industrial needs for materials,
determining the best ways to transport goods to customers, development of processes
for products, a basic understanding of metal forming and cutting, the design of assembly
systems and improving the environmental impacts of industry. A key aspect of this
program is the blend of practical plant expertise with the benefits of computational
technologies including computer-aided design and manufacturing. Processes are understood
from a hands-on perspective and expanded through theoretical defining models. Engineering
materials are studied throughout their life cycle from raw material acquisition, product
creation and usage, remanufacturing, recycling and final material disposal. Key expertise
within this group include internationally recognized faculty in computer-aided design
and manufacturing abrasives engineering, facilities planning and modeling and environmentally
conscious design and manufacturing, rapid prototyping, system optimization, artificial
intelligence, process engineering, grinding and abrasives engineering, facilities
planning and modeling and environmentally conscious design and manufacturing.
Dr. Sarit Bhaduri, Distinguished University Professor -- Ph.D., State University of New York: Materials
Science, Fracture and Fatigue, Solid State Materials, Biomaterials, Ceramics
Dr. Matthew Franchetti, Associate Professor -- Ph.D., The University of Toledo: Statistical Quality Control,
Facilities Planning, Engineering Economics, Statistical Analysis, Waste Reduction,
Environmental Impact
Dr. Meysam Haghshenas, Assistant Professor -- Ph.D. Western University: Fatigue and fracture mechanics;
Processing-structure-property relationships in materials; small-scale characterization
of materials (i.e. Nanoidentation); Additive manufacturing; Time-dependent deformation
of materials; Friction stir welding and processing
Dr. A.H. Jayatissa, Professor -- Ph.D., Shizuoka University: Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS),
Nanotechnology, Advanced Coating, Thin Films, Nanomaterials, Sensors, Renewable Energy
Dr. Ioan D. Marinescu, Professor -- Ph.D., University of Galatzi, 1991: Manufacturing Processes, Grinding,
Tribology, Advanced Materials, Machining of Brittle Materials
Dr. Efstratios Nikolaidis, Professor -- Ph.D., The University of Michigan, 1985: Structural Dynamics, Vehicle
Structural Dynamics, Engineering Design Optimization, Design, Reliability and Quality,
Structures and Structural Dynamics.
Dr. Ala Qattawi, Assistant Professor -- Ph.D., Clemson University, 2012: Design for Manufacturing,
Metals Processing, Origami Sheet Metal Forming, Sustainable Manufacturing
Dr. Hongyan Zhang, (Focus Group Leader) Professor -- Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1991: Solid Mechanics,
Sheet Metal Forming, Welding Fundamentals and Applications, Material Forming and Joining,
Adhesion, Welding and Composite Material Processing.
MANUFACTURING LABS:
Current Research Projects
Joining of Light Metals - Dr. Zhang
Light metals have been extensively used in the automotive industry for weight reduction
in the last two decades, in order to reduce emission and improve fuel economy, and
aluminum alloys are the most promising candidate for this purpose. As the enabling
technology, welding aluminum has been a challenge for the welding practitioners. As
a result, a large portion of aluminum joining is performed through alternative joining
approaches. A number of mechanical joining techniques for joining difficult-to-weld
and dissimilar light metals have been researched at UT. For instance, impact self-piercing
riveting and friction-stir riveting were developed in the materials joining lab. Such
efforts in welding/material joining are critical for the use of aluminum in large
volume production, resulting in significant economic and environmental benefits to
the society. Standard mechanical testing and metallographic examination techniques
are employed in the research.
Single-phase antibacterial phosphate coatings on orthopedic implants - Dr. Bhaduri
Internal fixation devices like hip or knee implants are widely used in the healthcare
industry. With the high usage, surgical site infections (SSI) have also become common
and they create havoc in the orthopedic industry. Various biotechnological coatings
have been developed over time to curb SSI. However, prolonged usage of antibiotics,
instability of composite coatings and processing complexities have hindered their
optimized performance. The present project takes advantage of an inorganic element
as the antibacterial agent and aims in optimizing its content. These are doped into
conventional and non-conventional bioceramics. Fabrication of single-phasic system
is of prime concern here as single-phasic systems support the homogeneous release
of the dopant. The single-phasic coatings are formed on various kind of implant materials.
Antibacterial effects against common and deadly infection-causing gram-negative and
gram-positive bacterial strains are being studied.
Next-generation calcium phosphate bone cement for orthopedic applications - Dr. Bhaduri
Calcium phosphate bone cement (CPCs) is a widely used commercial orthopedic material.
However, unfavorable mechanical properties such as low compressive strength restrict
the use of CPCs for repair in maxillofacial and craniofacial defects. To increase
the application of CPCs as load-bearing implants in vertebroplasty (VP) and kyphoplasty
(KP), compositions with enhanced mechanical properties should be developed. In the
present study, primarily we develop injectable CPC with enhanced mechanical properties
using two different bio-ceramic reinforcement- both with different aspect ratios.
The aims are to seek improvement of compressive strength while retaining good injectability
and self-setting nature of the cement. The main hypothesis is to promote the crack
deflection toughening mechanism in compositions, while also enhancing bioactivity
and cytocompatibility with pre-osteoblast cells.
Magnetic injectable self-setting calcium phosphate cement (CPC) compositions for hyperthermia
treatment of bone tumors - Dr. Bhaduri
Human bone is the major site of metastasized cancer tumor cells. Frequently, abnormal
activity of osteoclast cells causes tumors known as sarcomas. Common treatments for
sarcomas include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. However, most of these
treatments are highly invasive, non-responsive, and result in significant collateral
damage. An alternative therapy, hyperthermia involves increasing the tumor-site temperature
above the normal body temperature without affecting the neighboring tissues. This
project deals with the development of a self-setting magnetic calcium phosphate cement
for hyperthermic ablation of bone tumors. The magnetic compositions are achieved by
doping injectable, self-setting calcium phosphate cement (CPC) compositions with iron.
This makes it radio-opaque, thus ensuring that the cement can be injected at the correct
location. Further, the subsequent application of an external AC electric field can
generate substantial heat in the cement without the application of any electrode and
any surrounding tissue damage. The self-setting property ensures that the cement sets
(hardens) at the appropriate location. The results reveal satisfactory self-setting
nature, biocompatibility and also serve the purpose of killing cancer cells.
Smart piezoelectric calcium phosphates for orthopedic, spinal-fusion and dental applications
- Dr. Bhaduri
This project reports the development of a new generation of smart injectable calcium
phosphate cement (CPC) for orthopedic applications. The “smart” aspect of the compositions
is achieved by incorporating piezoelectric materials in the cement compositions. This
eliminates the requirement of high-temperature sintering process and the fabrication
of simple shapes, and enable the cement to be injected at the defect site using a
minimally invasive procedure. The targeted properties are to achieve good compressive
strength, injectability, bioactivity, biocompatibility, and even washout resistance.
The properties of this cement should not be compromised with the incorporation of
piezoelectric materials.
Sustainable Manufacturing and Pollution Prevention - Dr. Franchetti
Dr. Franchetti works closely with local manufacturers and businesses to assist them
in reducing environmental impact, creating sustainable operations, and generating
economic value. Clients include Owens Corning, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, General Motors,
Dana Corporation, Owens Illinois, and Libbey Glass. The expertise of the research
group includes lean six sigma, recycling, greenhouse gas footprints, energy efficiency,
food waste-to-energy conversion, and life cycle assessments. To date, the research
group has conducted over 90 assessments and identified over 100,000 tons of solid
waste for reuse, reduction, or recycling.
Representative publications
More Information
Thin film materials and semiconductor devices - Dr. Jayatissa
Thin film materials, energy harvesting, and storage materials and devices and manufacturing
of semiconductor devices
Description: development of sensors and actuators using thin-film materials, energy
harvesting and storage materials and devices and manufacturing of semiconductor devices.
Pneumatic Polishing - Dr. Marinescu
The application of Pneumatic Polishing (PP) technique is fairly new, and the research
on the great potential is far from complete. At the end of this project, a novel pneumatic
polishing technique that utilizes the latest technologies shall be developed to enhance
the existing polishing market. Surface roughness and accuracy, material removal rate,
and process efficiency are the quantitative deliverables that are expected to be studied.
In the sense of scientifically good results, this will build on a basis for a model
which is capable of forecasting results.
