Dapino to Develop New Manufacturing System with Wright Project Award

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Marcelo Dapino has received a $1.5 million award from the Ohio Third Frontier Wright Project Program to develop an advanced manufacturing technology for fabricating novel smart materials and structures. The project title is Integrated Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing and Laser Machining for Realization of Novel Smart Structures.

Smart materials can change their mechanical, thermal, optical, or electromagnetic properties from one form into another, thereby enabling more predictable and desired sensing and environmental reactions of polymer or alloy structures. The research team led by Professor Dapino and co-investigator Suresh Babu, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, will use the project's technology to embed smart materials into metals, targeting a variety of commercial applications such as armor, tooling, sensors, microchannel reactors, aerospace, automotive, and reduced and/or controllable thermal expansion properties industries.

The award will support the establishment of a new manufacturing facility on the Ohio State campus. A commercialization program associated with the award will be carried out by Edison Welding Institute (Columbus, Ohio) in collaboration with Solidica Corporation, The Boeing Company, Velocys, the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center on Smart Vehicle Concepts, Polytec, Honda R&D Americas, Parker Aerospace, Dukane, and Intelligent Assembly Solutions. This is one of only three Wright Project grants awarded in fiscal year 2011. 

Visit the Ohio Department of Development web site for more information about Ohio Third Frontier programs.