Research Methods in

Engineering

Set #5 Research Proposal

Basic Elements
ENGR 695
 Basic Elements of a Research Proposal

• Context and Background

• Problem Statement and Potential Benefits

• Research Challenges and Possible Approaches

• Desirable Outcomes and Deliverables

 Context and Background

• Establishes the motivation for the

work

• Puts it in the context of the field

• Provides some background
Problem Statement and Potential Benefits

• What is/are the fundamental

problem/s
• How solving the problems will result
in benefits
 Research Challenges and Possible Approaches

• What is/are the specific challenges

that the research will attempt to
resolve.
• How is it going to resolve those
challenges
 Desirable Outcomes and Deliverables

• State specific outcomes.

• Measurable outcomes
• State deliverables at the end of the
project.
 Research Proposal Example-1
SCALING EFFECT IN THE NEXT
GENERATION OF LIGHTWEIGHT
LATTICE STRUCTURES FOR
ADVANCED AEROSPACE
APPLICATIONS
 Context and Background
Currently, there is a strong interest in developing lightweight, high-performance structures for
aerospace design. Traditionally, many lightweight aircraft components have been based on
sandwich structure consisting of composite skins bonded to honeycomb or foam cores.
Recently, researchers at Khalifa University have developed a novel technique for manufacturing
previously unobtainable lattice structures with potentially complex truss arrangements, see
Figure 1. The lattice structures are manufactured using vacuum assisted resin infusion. The
beauty of the technique is the fact that the same fiber runs along the length of the trusses into
the composite skins, avoiding any need for bonding or other joining techniques. The fibers in
the trusses therefore form part of the skins. One further, unique advantage, is that the
structures can be made in a simple one-shot manufacturing procedure, where the resin is
infused simultaneously into both the skins and the struts. This will be developed in the proposed
program.

Figure 1. A carbon fiber octet truss structure.

 Problem Statement and Potential Benefits

One area of great importance, that has not been investigated for any material system thus far,
concerns scalability in the manufacture of lattice structures. Such variations in scale could potentially
result in changes in the microstructure of the composite struts (due to increased fiber waviness etc.),
impacting on the overall mechanical properties of the structure. In addition to microstructure-
related effects, scaled changes in geometry can result in a fundamental change in failure mode and
overall energy absorption. For example, previous work investigating the low velocity impact
response of metals and composites have highlighted significant deviation from scaling laws. If these
issues are overcome, it should be possible to manufacture small, representative lattices that
replicate the behavior of larger aerospace components. This would lead to savings in time and
money.
Research Challenges and Possible Approaches
Scaling effects in the properties of lattice structures based on both glass fiber/epoxy and carbon
fiber/epoxy resin will be investigated here. Different types of lattice structure will be
considered, for example, a pyramidal, a Kagomé, Fig. 2a, and an octet structure, Fig. 2b. Four
scale sizes will be considered here, these being referred to as  = 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 (full-scale)
structures. In order to satisfy the requirements of geometric scaling, the strand diameters
within the lattices as well as the global dimensions of the structures will be scaled.

Figure 2. Schematic drawings of (a) a 3D Kagome structure and (b) an octet structure similar to
that in Figure 3.

Following manufacture, scaling effects in the microstructure of the lattices will be assessed and this
will be followed by a detailed investigation of the effect of scale size on the compressive, shear and
impact properties of the lattice designs. The main feature modeling study will be to establish reliable
and effective finite element models to simulate the structural behavior and deformation/failure
modes in the proposed composite lattices and their associated sandwich structures. Initial attention
will focus on the compression and shear response. Further models will be developed to simulate the
response of composite lattice sandwich beams and panels subjected to projectile impact and blast
and to correctly simulate the deformation/failure mechanisms and evaluate the energy absorption
characteristics under impact and blast loading, respectively.
Desirable Outcomes and Deliverables
 Research Proposal Example 2

AUTOMATED ROBOTIC NUTPLATE

INSTALLATION FOR AIRCRAFT
ASSEMBLY
 Context and Background
• Aerostructures assemblies make extensive use of
nutplates, for the ease of assembly and disassembly
of panels and covers. These are currently installed in
a multistep manual process and there are typically
over 2000 nutplates on a large aircraft structure,
such as the Vertical Fins. Hence, automating the
installation of nutplates on aircraft structure using
robots will provide significant savings and improve
efficiency.
Problem Statement and Potential Benefits
• Industrial serial manipulators, namely a KUKA robotic arm (shown on
the right), will be used in the project in order to automatically perform
the following tasks:
1.Locate the position of the nutplate
2.Drill, countersink and debur fixing holes
3.Position and fasten Nutplate to structure

While global positioning tasks can be done effectively by the robotic

arm, no commercial solutions are available to manipulate nutplates to
precisely refer them to the main structure and to perform preparatory
machining (drilling and countersinking) on the part. The design and
development of a custom end-effector is the missing link to create a fully
automated process, with relevant saving of resources and dramatic
increase of throughput.
Research Challenges and Possible Approaches
• Main research challenges and possible approaches are:
 
1. Compact and lightweight design, in order to access small
areas and to have compatibility with small payload robots
2. Accurate relative positioning with respect to the structure,
in order to meet the strong requirements on precision for
the given application
3. Manipulation of nutplates using custom-made gripper
extensions retro-fitted on commercial gripper
 Desirable Outcomes and Deliverables
• The main project objectives are:
1.  Develop design concept of a multifunctional end-effector to
perform desired tasks
2. Generate 3D CAD model of end effector design in SolidWorks
3. Simulate kinematics and motion of end-effector in SolidWorks
4. Fabricate early prototypes using 3D-printed parts for testing
and validation
5. Go through several design iterations with simulation and rapid
prototyping until final design is determined
6. Generate 3D simulation in DELMIA with the robot manipulator
in the ARIC lab
7. Test and validate design in the ARIC lab with the robotic arm
 Research Plan: Gantt Chart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUzZ_CiiWX8
 Some useful links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=bSCKdmCfzHo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=wol_uL4oHp0