Home prods links sb's patents Publ cont

Use the browser's BACK button to return to the SEARCH RESULTS pages.

2003 / Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings
PREV and NEXT link to numerically adjacent references for this YEAR.
CONTENTS links to the title list for this YEAR's references.

Prev | Next | Contents


14. Implementation of a Functionally Gradient Material Modeling And Design System

Author Aparajit Pratap, Richard H. Crawford Laboratory for Freeform Fabrication, Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712

Source Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings, 2003, pp 150-161.

Abstract New advancements in Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) processes promise the capability to produce Functionally Gradient Material (FGM) parts, in which the material compositions vary spatially. To realize this potential there is a need for CAD methods and design software to model, design, represent and exchange material information and instructions to the manufacturing process. However, currently available commercial CAD systems are limited to representing and storing only geometric information, which is not adequate for material design purposes. This work presents an extension of a theoretical approach based on Volumetric Multi-Texturing (VMT) and hypertexturing schemes to make the material design process intuitive and user controllable. Inverse distance weighted interpolation is used in conjunction with procedural material functions to accomplish axial or linear material gradient directions from surface to surface across a solid. This offers the capability of specifying fixed material composition values to the faces in the solid and blending them across the interior of the solid. The extension of the proposed approach to the modeling of discrete material domains is also discussed. These material regions can be combined using special sets of operators depending on the form of the material functions. Finally, a design environment has been developed, which allows users to systematically apply material information to geometry and captures design intent. (Auth abstract) [References: 16] XX




Prev | Next | Contents

Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings can be obtained from:  The Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium

or contact:

The University of Texas at Austin
Laboratory for Freeform Fabrication / Texas Materials Institute
Mechanical Engineering Dept.
c/o The Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium
MC C2200
Austin, TX 78712-1063 USA
512-471-3026; 512-471-7681 FX; Email: sffsymp@uts.cc.utexas.edu

Home prods links sb's patents Publ cont

(C) Copyright Castle Island Co., All Rights Reserved.
REV 0 - - - 1/29/04