SIMULATION-BASED DESIGN SYSTEM FOR MULTI-STAGE MANUFACTURIN

The proposed research is aimed at supporting the U.S. Air Force's ongoing efforts in developing a simulation-and-optimization-based design system for multiple-stage processing of The scope of the overall effort includes a feature-based simulation methodology, global optimization of the entire processing sequence and visualization of results during the entire product realization process using integrated multi-media technologies.The primary objective of the proposed Phase I effort is to demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining and utilizing materials and process models in a comupteraided design system that can evaluate alternative processing sequences. The proposal addresses the following sprcific tasks related to this effort: (1) development of simplified models which capture the essential physics of the processes for thermal and mechanical transport in basic features, (2) development of material and cost models for basic features, (3) development of concepts & strategies for appropriate integration of the basic features in order to achieve the desired shape of the worpiece and to project its behavior and properties, (4) verification of the feature-based process models, and (5) interfacing with the optimization and visualization efforts concurrently funded by the Air Force. A plan for commercialization of the proposed research is also presented.