Dr. Tian “Tim” Chen
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
tianchen [at] uh.edu
This project focuses on designing and fabricating complex metamaterial in alumina ceramics via stereolithography (SLA) for future space exploration. Emphasizing geometric design, the project will explore computational methods to develop lightweight, mechanically robust, and thermally efficient materials for physical phenomena including stress distribution, energy absorption, and thermal management. Once optimized, these novel metamaterials will be printed using SLA, and post-processed in a kiln and a furnace. Students will then evaluate the mechanical and thermal performance of printed parts under simulated extraterrestrial conditions - high vacuum, extreme temperature fluctuations, and potential microgravity effects.
Two positions are open for this topic, one student will focus on digital geometry processing and numerical modelling, another student will focus on fabrication and experimental testing.
Researcher Interests and Skills:
The ideal candidates should have familiarity with CAD software (Rhino3D), structural analysis, and an interest in additive manufacturing. Experience with computational modeling and simulation tools is advantageous, as students will heavily rely on digital design and validation techniques.
