A research team from the University of Dakota has received federal funding of nearly $250,000 (AUD$359,000) to research new manufacturing methods for components used in nuclear reactors.
Funding for the project was awarded to Sougata Roy, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UND, through the National Science Foundation, and Roy will serve as the principal investigator on the project.
In particular, the research project will make use of nitrogen-strengthened austenitic steel, which will function as the feedstock for the manufacturing process.
Upon completion, those components will be thoroughly examined to compare their functionality versus traditionally manufactured components.
According to Roy, additive manufacturing makes it feasible to regulate material qualities both close to an object’s surface and at its core, which is not possible with conventional production processes.
“Different research groups are trying to make the components using additive manufacturing,” Roy said.
“Conventionally, these components are made through casting or wrought-iron forging, but you cannot tweak the mechanical properties or the microstructure properly. In additive manufacturing, we have lot more grip on that,” the lead researcher added.
Meanwhile, dean of the UND College of Engineering and Mines Brian Tande said the college has recently made investments to expand work in materials science and advanced manufacturing, expressing his excitement to the new project.
“This work will lead to advancements in metal additive manufacturing and has the potential to contribute to UND’s research efforts in energy and national security,” the dean noted.
Part fabrication and preliminary material characterisation will take place at UND, followed by further analysis using neutron diffraction at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Spallation Neutron Source in Tennessee.
Roy and a doctoral student from his research group at UND will spend the summers of 2024 and 2025 at ORNL.
Previously, Roy received a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study the potential of additive manufacturing for large components to be used on naval vessels
He is also in charge of two other NASA-funded AM projects.
