Space-time optimization for closing the design-to-manufacturing gap

Additive manufacturing (AM) holds the promise to manufacture with less waste and energy, and to deliver the optimal quality for products ranging from customized medical implants to lightweight airplane parts. Design by structural optimization is key to reach the optimal quality. However, besides the structural design, the quality of AM-fabricated components also critically depends on the fabrication sequence to realize it. While inherently related, structural design and fabrication process planning have up till now been treated as two consecutive tasks. This often leads to optimized designs that are not manufacturable, or can only be produced with compromised quality and substantial cost increases.

Functieomschrijving

Project SpaceTimeOpt presents a new paradigm in computational design for additive manufacturing. We aim at closing the gap between the performance of the as-designed and the as-fabricated components. The basic idea is to encode fabrication sequences by introducing the time dimension. With this, we formulate (spatial) structural design and (temporal) fabrication process planning as a unified optimization problem in the space-time domain, and thus the concept, space-time optimization. Space-time optimization exploits simultaneously the design freedom as well as the freedom in fabrication sequence, offered by current (and future) AM technologies. This will enable AM to deliver on its promise.

Project SpaceTimeOpt is funded by NWO Talent Programme - Vidi. The project focuses on the development of computational methods. The experimental validation will be carried out in collaboration with leading industrial partners specialized in WAMM (Wire arc additive manufacturing

Functie-eisen

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate who enjoys working in a multidisciplinary setting.

Essential qualifications include:

• MSc degree in computer science, mechanical engineering, or closed related fields
• Strong mathematical and computational skills
• Extensive experience with programming
• Good knowledge of computational design for additive manufacturing
• Very good command of English

Knowledge of the following subjects is a plus:

• Process planning for 3D printing/robotic fabrication
• Topology optimization
• Computer graphics
• High performance computing

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Afdeling

Sustainable Design Engineering at the faculty of Industrial Design

Additionele informatie

For more information about this vacancy, please contact For information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Jun Wu, e-mail: j.wu-1@tudelft.nl

Sollicitatieprocedure

For information about the application procedure, please contact Annick Verboon, e-mail: secretariaat-SDE-HR@tudelft.nl