ME Faculty received funding from the ORED Undergraduate Research Program

Congratulations to Assistant Professors, Matthew Priddy and Prashant Singh, who received funding from the ORED Undergraduate Research Program.  This program provides small grants to MSU faculty to create innovative, faculty-directed research opportunities for talented undergraduate students.

Dr. Priddy’s project aims to study additively manufactured (AM) metallic lattice structures and plastic scaffolds by developing finite element (FE) models that utilize micro-CT images as the basis for the geometry of the model. Historically, researchers have performed FE simulations of the ideal geometry (drawn in CAD software) to understand the microscopic deformation response and compared with macroscopic experimental datasets. However, with the technological advance of imagery (e.g., micro-CT), detailed CAD geometries can now be captured for these structures and simulations performed to mimic the experimental response in an effort to ascertain the impact of imprecise geometry or variation between seemingly identical specimens.

Dr. Singh’s project aims towards engaging undergraduate students interested in thermal-fluid sciences, in building a device for measurement of effective thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of composites for their employment as thermal interface materials (TIMs) for cooling of high-power density electronics. To this end, different carbonaceous materials such as single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), graphene nanoplatelets and their hybrids will be loaded in a base epoxy at different loading fractions to develop highly efficient TIMs. The device will have the capabilities to facilitate both, steady-state and transient heat transfer experiments, where detailed temperatures will be recorded using an infrared camera.

For more information about the ORED Undergraduate Research Program click here.