Integration and Evaluation of MELD® for Naval Additive Manufacturing and Repair Use

MELD®, also known as Additive Friction Stir, has been identified as a potential method for the production and repair of naval components.  This effort will explore opportunities and potential challenges of adoption at the shipyard by demonstrating uses of value, developing process maps for multiple alloys, and delivering equipment and training to a shipyard for further experimentation. The efforts for sample fabrication and characterization will deliver data sets for baseline activity to write specs for MELD and provide sufficient training and equipment to allow the Navy to pursue additional efforts to qualify the process.