Lattice structures produced using additive manufacturing (AM) are popular in a number of applications. In metrology, lattice structures can be used as vibration isolating support frames for high precision instruments as the versatility of AM allows designs to be tuned for specific harmonic properties. Defects from AM processes are well documented in the literature however, lattice structure defects and their impact on performance is not. This work will use X-ray computed tomography (XCT) to analyse the defects formed in lattice structures. XCT is used to obtain a point cloud of the lattice structure which can be used directly for measurements or exported as a mesh for further analysis. Finite element analysis will also be used to further study the defect’s impact on the mechanical properties.

The surface of most plant leaves consists of a wax and polymeric barrier called the cuticle which frequently rate-limits the transport of agrochemicals into the plant based on cuticle composition and structure. Currently our limited understanding of the cuticle microstructure, and thus means of modelling this barrier, present an obstacle to the development of effective agrochemicals.

This project seeks to understand the cuticle features involved in determining the rate of agrochemical penetration including cuticle composition and crystalline structure. Additive manufacturing will then be used as a means of producing model cuticles displaying analogues of these features for consistent, high throughput agrochemical penetration testing. A particular focus of this project will be the printing of waxes and other organic materials such that they retain, or reproduce, natural structures and features.

Metamaterials are artificial materials that possess unconventional material parameters. They have been employed to control electromagnetic and acoustic waves with unprecedented functionality; examples of which include negative refractive index and superlensing. These functionalities arise due to the anisotropy of the metamaterial whereby the material parameters are tensors rather than scalars, allow the dispersion relations to display shapes that are elliptic or hyperbolic.

In this project we aim to fabricate mm-sized metamaterials with sub-micron features via two-photon polymerisation (2PP). First steps will look at the resolution and feature sizes achievable by 2PP to understand fully how feature geometry can be manipulated by simple changes in the processing parameters. Following this will be an investigation into how geometrical anisotropy across the well-known woodpile structure will affect its optical properties. Furthermore, the project will investigate the limit of a long wavelength compared to the structure period, where fabrication of gradient index optics may be possible.

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This research will develop a new way of rapidly making high-quality metal parts by Additive Manufacturing, often referred to as 3D printing. This work, if successful, will lead to faster, cheaper and more environmentally-friendly production of functional parts to be used in the UK's leading industries. It will help maintain the competitive advantage of manufacturing industries in the UK and result in enhanced industrial output and lead to improved exports. The UK academic community will gain by opening up new research opportunities to chemists, materials scientists and engineers in universities. The public will gain through the manufacture of new products and job-creation in key industrial sectors in the UK.

Elbow dysplasia is a disease that covers numerous pathologies associated with the canine elbow. Medial compartment disease occurs when these pathologies are not treated, and the medial compartment of the canine elbow becomes eroded, and the articulating cartilage reduces. Normally, the lateral compartment remains unaffected and healthy. This erosion of the medial cartilage changes the angle of the elbow, producing a varus deformation, meaning that the forelimb of the dog bends at the elbow, and no longer lies straight in the frontal plane. These deformities cause lameness and pain during waking, and are usually managed non-surgically using lifestyle changes, non-steroidal drugs, and analgesics. Surgical treatments of medial compartment disease are limited, and there is no standard provenly effective way to do so. My project revolves around the design of a new surgical treatment to manage medial compartment disease, with the investigation and efficacy of various osteotomies, including sliding humeral osteotomies, rotational osteotomies, and humeral wedge osteotomies.

Ti-6Al-4V is a commonly used high specification metal alloy due to its high specific strength, corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility. This combination of properties makes it high in demand in the medical industry for maxillofacial and musculoskeletal implants, where the need to withstand repeated loading is essential for product function.
 
However, the fatigue strength is detrimentally affected by porosity found within products. This project will analyse variables associated with the Electron Beam Melting powder bed additive manufacture process and relate these to porosity. The aim is to establish knowledge on the sources of porosity which can be implemented within a quality system to avoid the creation of porosity, allowing the creation of repeatable properties from batch to batch, establishing a standardised process for high performance functional implants.

This project will use a new AM process for hydrogels called Reactive Jet Impingement (ReJI) to fabricate functionally gradient coatings or scaffolds onto medical implants. Hydrogels create a favourable environment for cell incorporation, and 3D hydrogel coatings have the potential to enhance medical devices through encouraging device–tissue interactions and modulating the surrounding biological environment in a human body. The ReJI process offers a new and efficient way of achieving hydrogel coatings, and will be exploited to print cell-filled gels and integrate them with medical devices.