Northeastern University Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security (KRI)
Northeastern University (NU) pursues the advancement of cold spray for Naval operations by developing spray procedures and materials that produce optimal performance of cold spray repairs, as well as developing training materials for cold spray operators. Through the Advancing Additive Manufacturing and Cold Spray for Sustainment of Maritime Assets program led by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), NU has partnered with NAVSEA, NAVAIR, the US Marine Corps, and several industry and academic partners to develop a range of cold spray solutions.
https://www.northeastern.edu/kostas/
Cold Spray Repair & Additive Manufacturing
Cold spray is a versatile technology that can spray a variety of materials (aluminum, steel, titanium, among others) in complex spray patterns and at high deposition rates. As opposed to ordering replacements for damage parts—or, in the case of parts that are no longer manufactured, sending the parts to an off-site facility for repair—a cold spray unit can be installed in a naval shipyard or on a naval vessel, so that parts can be repaired with much less cost and lead time. Northeastern University (NU) assists in the advancement of cold spray for Naval operations by developing digital tools and spray procedures to optimize the performance of cold spray repairs, as well as developing training materials for cold spray operators. Through the Advancing Additive Manufacturing and Cold Spray for Sustainment of Maritime Assets program led by the NCMS, NU has partnered with several DOD, industry, and academic partners to develop several technology solutions to advance cold spray technology in NAVSEA applications.
Problem Statement:
- Qualified spray procedures (QSPs) must be developed for qualifying cold spray to repair NAVSEA parts.
- Developing QSPs by repeatedly spraying and testing is costly and time-consuming.
- As cold spray units are installed in Naval shipyards, operators must be trained on how to use the equipment safely and effectively.
Technology Solution:
- NU has developed QSPs for repairing several NAVSEA parts.
- NU has developed Virtual QSP software tools for planning and testing sprays virtually, before conducting physical sprays.
- NU has developed training tutorials for cold spray operators on spray fundamentals, safety, and equipment operations.
Benefits:
- NU’s state-of-the-art cold spray facility allows sprays and post-spray validation for the development of QSPs to be performed efficiently and effectively.
- NU’s Virtual QSP toolbox allows optimal spray parameters, spray costs, robot spray paths, and other operational considerations to be simulated and evaluated, prior to spraying.
- NU’s training tools have been developed using one of the current, state-of-the-art systems implemented at NAVSEA installations.
Contact
Professor Sinan Muftu
+1 (617) 373-4743