Weld-assist: weldability assessment for in-space conditions using a digital twin
Active Grant For Research Awarded Last action
- Contract number
- 80NSSC25K7280
- Awardee
-
University Of Illinois UEI W8XEAJDKMXH3
- Awarding agency
-
Shared Services Center
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Obligated
- $499,496
Award facts
- Contract value 67% obligated
- $749,239.00 Current and potential, with all options
- Completion date 58% complete
- Current and potential, with all options
- NAICS code
- Not on record
- PSC
- AJ11 General Science And Technology R&D Services; General Science And Technology; Basic Research
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
- Competition
- Full and Open Competition Basic Research
- Pricing
- Other
- Place of performance
- Chicago, IL 60612, USA
Award details come from SAM.gov/FPDS.
Transactions
| Action | Obligated | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Funding Only Action | $249,797 | |
| Other Administrative Action | $0 | |
| Original award | $249,699 |
About this award
The University of Illinois has been awarded a $749,239 research grant by NASA to develop WELD-ASSIST, a digital twin toolkit for assessing weldability in space environments. The project aims to create the first generalized Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME)-based digital twin to enable real-time weldability assessment for keyhole mode laser and electron beam welding of structural aluminum alloys and cryogenic austenitic stainless steel. The research addresses three critical challenges unique to in-space welding: the degradation of material weldability at extremely low temperatures, the effects of extreme vacuum on alloying element vaporization and keyhole geometry, and the elimination of buoyancy-driven liquid metal flow in microgravity that leads to porosity formation.
The research program incorporates multiple validation and demonstration phases scheduled for completion by January 26, 2028. Validation will utilize historical Skylab data, literature sources, and international agency results, supplemented by earth-based welding tests and parabolic flight experiments through Zero-G Corporation to capture various gravity conditions. The project will demonstrate applications using aluminum alloy AA 2219 and austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L across varying combinations of gravity, ambient temperature, and external pressure, while incorporating uncertainty quantification to continuously refine model parameters. The work also includes provisions for extending the digital twin models to support in-situ resource utilization on the Moon. This award carries no set-aside designation and represents a significant investment in advancing NASA's space exploration capabilities through advanced materials processing technology.
Quick answers
Who was awarded contract 80NSSC25K7280?
80NSSC25K7280 was awarded to University Of Illinois by Shared Services Center (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) on January 27, 2025.
How much is contract 80NSSC25K7280 worth?
The government has obligated $499,496 on 80NSSC25K7280. Its current value, with exercised options, is $749,239.
Was contract 80NSSC25K7280 competed?
The extent of competition for 80NSSC25K7280 was full and open competition.
On GovTribe
See this award's full record
- Every transaction and funding action
- The awardee's other awards and teaming partners
- Similar awards and recompete opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this award