TITLE:

DESIGN OPTIMIZATION OF STRUCTURES HAVING FUNCTIONALLY GRADED MATERIAL PROPERTIES ? A LESSON FROM NATURE (No. 35)

DATE:

Friday, January 23rd, 2004

TIME:

3:30 PM

LOCATION:

GMCS 214

SPEAKER:

Satchi Venkataraman, Department of Aerospace Engineering, San Diego State University

ABSTRACT:

Recent research trends indicate that we may soon be able to manufacture large structures with spatially tailored properties (functionally graded materials). Nature appears to have evolved multifunctional structures with functionally graded properties and hierarchical material microstructure. However, we have limited understanding of optimally designing structures that incorporate functional grading in properties and employ hierarchical material microstructure to serve multifunctional needs. Understanding such designs can rapidly accelerate our learning process. This talk presents some work done on investigating functionally graded material properties used by bone structures to minimize stress failures at naturally occurring holes (foramen). Current work and future plans in continuing the research into optimum design of structures with functionally graded material properties will be presented. The challenges for optimization and current limitations in modeling will be discussed.

HOST:

Jose Castillo

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