Computational Engineering and Design Tools for Additive Manufacturing

This article describes Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) capabilities in computational engineering and design for additive manufacturing. Because additive manufacturing's selective deposition of material and energy enables the ability to produce new and novel geometries, designers and fabricators need new design software and validation methods to take full advantage of this new fabrication technology. APL employs an immense range of modeling, optimization, and finite element modeling software to unlock the true potential of additive manufacturing. By combining these AM-specific computational engineering design tools with its diverse expertise in areas such as rapid material development, the Lab can fabricate novel components with unprecedented properties for its sponsors' unique missions.