State-of-the-art additive friction stir deposition for advancing manufacturing research and cultivating next-generation workforce

The Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, doing business as Virginia Tech, received a $800,000 project grant award from the Department of the Navy Secretary of the Navy Office of Naval Research on February 1, 2023 to complete work by January 31, 2024.

The grant will support the university's "State-of-the-Art Additive Friction Stir Deposition for Advancing Manufacturing Research and Cultivating Next-Generation Workforce" project under the Basic and Applied Scientific Research program (CFDA 12.300). The project aims to advance additive manufacturing techniques and train students in next-generation manufacturing skills that have potential to improve naval operations. Specifically, the university will conduct research into additive friction stir deposition and use the results to strengthen manufacturing curriculum and research opportunities for students. The funding will allow Virginia Tech to develop new additive manufacturing processes with applications for naval and maritime industries.