About the talk

With the advent of manufacturing processes such as the composite tow-steering technology and the multi-material 3D printing, the realisation of optimal high-performance structures become feasible. The challenge, however, is to re-think the way we design parts, incorporate a new set of manufacturing constraints and importantly consider computationally efficient approaches to model/simulate. This talk will discuss the role of computer methods in the realisation of i) curvilinear fibre reinforced plastics for morphing applications, and ii) multi-material 3D printed smart structures that embed system componentry. The importance of blending a diverse set of numerical techniques to progress the current state of the art in terms of design potential offered by these innovative manufacturing processes and their implications on the nascent research area of 3D printing of composites will be discussed.