Hiring Institution
École Nationale Supérieure D’Arts et Métiers (ENSAM)

PhD-Awarding Institutions
École Nationale Supérieure D’Arts et Métiers (ENSAM)
Swinburne University of Technology (SUT)

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Option 1

Effect of process parameters on the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of NiTi alloys

The superelastic or shape-memory effects of NiTi alloys make them excellent candidates for applications in the transport, space and medical sectors. Superelasticity (SE) allows the alloy to deform reversibly over very large deformation ranges. The shape memory effect (SMA) is the ability of a part to change shape by heating, even after significant deformation, for example actuators that allow the solar panels on satellites to be deployed simply by heating a shape memory part. Applications cover a wide range of fields, from medical applications (stents, endodontic files, flexible glasses) to smart wheels for cars and even in the space industry for the superelastic wheels on the Mars rover. What remains limiting is the difficulty of shaping and machining NiTi alloys, which means that complex shapes are difficult to obtain (production limited to wires and plates).

Additive manufacturing makes it possible to manufacture complex parts such as architected structures, producing superelastic or shape memory metamaterials that combine the properties of the material and those of the structures. These structures could find applications in the field of advanced mobility, to absorb shocks or vibrations, or to create deployable structures or customised medical implants.

A methodology will be developed to (1) understand the link between the microstructures and the manufacturing parameters, using different microstructure characterisation techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), (2) understand the effect of thin walled specimens on the microstructure, (3) understand the quasi-static behaviour of bulk and thin walled specimens in link with the microstructure, (4) to address the cyclic loading response of selected NiTi grades obtained by different process parameters.

This project is being carried out jointly by an Australian laboratory, Swinburne University, two French laboratories, I2M and PIMM, and in collaboration with French and Australian industries.

Option 2

Combining shape memory alloys and architectured materials obtained by SLM for high performance mechanical properties

The superelastic or shape-memory effects of NiTi alloys make them excellent candidates for applications in the transport, space and medical sectors. Superelasticity (SE) allows the alloy to deform reversibly over very large deformation ranges. The shape memory effect (SMA) is the ability of a part to change shape by heating, even after significant deformation, for example actuators that allow the solar panels on satellites to be deployed simply by heating a shape memory part. Applications cover a wide range of fields, from medical applications (stents, endodontic files, flexible glasses) to smart wheels for cars and even in the space industry for the superelastic wheels on the Mars rover. What remains limiting is the difficulty of shaping and machining NiTi alloys, which means that complex shapes are difficult to obtain (production limited to wires and plates).

Additive manufacturing makes it possible to manufacture complex parts such as architected structures, producing superelastic or shape memory metamaterials that combine the properties of the material and those of the structures. These structures could find applications in the field of advanced mobility, to absorb shocks or vibrations, or to create deployable structures or customised medical implants.

In the case of process parameters leading to a shape memory alloy, a methodology will be developed to (1) understand the microstructures of architectured materials obtained by selective laser meting (SLM) technology using relevant characterisation techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD); (2) to characterize the quasi-static and fatigue behaviour of lattices structures produced by metallic additive manufacturing (3) to identify the damage mechanisms at the local scale and the link with the microstructure by performing in-situ mechanical testing under synchrotron radiation.

Option 3

Superelastics architectured materials obtained by SLM: from microstructure to mechanical properties

The superelastic or shape-memory effects of NiTi alloys make them excellent candidates for applications in the transport, space and medical sectors. Superelasticity (SE) allows the alloy to deform reversibly over very large deformation ranges. The shape memory effect (SMA) is the ability of a part to change shape by heating, even after significant deformation, for example actuators that allow the solar panels on satellites to be deployed simply by heating a shape memory part. Applications cover a wide range of fields, from medical applications (stents, endodontic files, flexible glasses) to smart wheels for cars and even in the space industry for the superelastic wheels on the Mars rover. What remains limiting is the difficulty of shaping and machining NiTi alloys, which means that complex shapes are difficult to obtain (production limited to wires and plates).
Additive manufacturing makes it possible to manufacture complex parts such as architected structures, producing superelastic or shape memory metamaterials that combine the properties of the material and those of the structures. These structures could find applications in the field of advanced mobility, to absorb shocks or vibrations, or to create deployable structures or customised medical implants.
In the case of process parameters leading to a superelastic behaviour, a methodology will be developed to (1) understand the microstructures of architectured materials obtained by selective laser meting (SLM) technology using different microstructure characterisation techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD); (2) to characterize the quasi-static and fatigue behaviour of lattices structures produce by metallic additive manufacturing (3) to identify the damage mechanisms at the local scale and the link with the microstructure by performing in-situ mechanical testing under synchrotron radiation.

Nicolas Saintier
Yvonne Durandet

Mechanics, Materials Science and Engineering