Latest Stories

News

Materials

SAE Books: 'Automated Fiber Placement' with Ramy Hari

Ramy Harik, a Fulbright alumnus and director of the Clemson Composites Center, is pushing the boundaries of manufacturing with his latest book, Automated Fiber Placement: Status,...

Q&A

Energy

Hydrogen Industry Vet Says Fuel Cells Still a ‘Go’

Tarek Abdel-Baset, Forvia’s chief engineer for hydrogen storage systems, has two decades of experience in alt-fuel transporation development, with all the ups and downs that entails....

Articles

Automotive

Balancing the Scales in Dakar

In most kinds of racing, the mantra is simple: simplify and add lightness. Sure, Colin Chapman of Lotus fame was on to something when the route is smooth, but what happens when the racecourse is Mother Nature...

News

Materials

Hydrogen Storage Tank Options: Not Everything Need Look like a Sausage

Since the 1860 Hippomoblie, hydrogen has been a part of powered mobility. Today, most hydrogen storage applications use cylindrical tanks, but other solutions are...

Briefs

Energy

Using Artificial Intelligence to Find the Polymers of the Future

Finding the next groundbreaking polymer is always a challenge, but now Georgia Tech researchers are using AI to shape and transform the future of the field. Rampi Ramprasad’s group develops and adapts AI algorithms to accelerate materials discovery. Read on to learn more.

News

Materials

Altair Honors Innovations in Automotive Lightweighting and Sustainability

General Motors engineers opted for a battery structure comprised entirely of high-performance polymeric materials for the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray’s hybrid...

Briefs

Manned Systems

‘Nanostitches’ Enable Lighter and Tougher Composite Materials

To save on fuel and reduce aircraft emissions, engineers are looking to build lighter, stronger airplanes out of advanced composites. These engineered materials are made from high-performance fibers that are embedded in polymer sheets. The sheets can be stacked and pressed into one multilayered material and made into extremely lightweight and durable structures.

Articles

Test & Measurement

Zero Prototype Summit 2024: The Future Is Closer Than Ever

Despite rainy skies above northeastern Italy in mid-May, the mood at VI-grade’s 2024 Zero Prototype Summit (ZPS) was decidedly sunny. VI-grade’s partners from around the world...

News

Power

Tested: 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 Spins up a Winner

I’m used to spinning wheels while testing cars, but the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 is making a spectacle.

Technical Innovation

Energy

Fuel Cell Production Spurs Supplier Opportunities

The head of General Motors’ global fuel-cell business is bullish about ongoing opportunities for suppliers in the emerging hydrogen-power space, as GM and partner Honda Motor Co. began...

Briefs

Materials

Towards Sustainable Recycling of Epoxy-Based Polymers: Approaches and Challenges of Epoxy Biodegradation

Epoxy polymers are widely used in various industries. However, the disposal of epoxy polymers and composites thereof has become a significant concern due to their recalcitrant nature and the adverse environmental effects caused by traditional recycling methods.

Briefs

Sensors/Data Acquisition

Learning Defects From Aircraft NDT Data

Non-destructive evaluation of aircraft production is optimized and digitalized with Industry 4.0. The aircraft structures produced using fiber metal laminate are traditionally inspected using water-coupled ultrasound scans and manually evaluated.

Articles

Communications

How Thunderbolt 4 Helps Bring Fault-Tolerant, Distributed Systems to Market

Thunderbolt 4 is more than USB operating at 40 gigabits per second (Gbps). While USB 3.2 Gen 2 is 10 Gbps and USB4 is 20 Gbps, Thunderbolt 4 also provides DisplayPort alt mode, PCI Express 3.0, networking up to 10 Gbps, and Power Delivery up to 100 watts.

News

Energy

Honda Showcases Electrified Future of Motorsports

Honda North America has long had a presence in racing and motorsports at every level in the United States. The company has continually supported programs aimed at the highest levels of open...

News

Automotive

A Formula for Real-World Experience

On a hazy, cool day in late May, a massive throng of thousands of collegiate engineers and hundreds of volunteers descended on Michigan International Speedway to put the teams’ engineering, wrenching...

Articles

Mechanical & Fluid Systems

3D, No Waiting!

Few will dispute that additive manufacturing — commonly called 3D printing — has endured a development path of fits and starts. But as niche applications, an ever-increasing array of material choices — and the...

Articles

Energy

Hydrogen Storage in a Box!

Until recently, there was only one practical solution for storing gaseous hydrogen for onboard vehicle use: the cylindrical storage tank. Spiral-wound, carbon fiber cylinders are the proven form factor for...

Briefs

Sensors/Data Acquisition

Overcoming Performance Limitations of Distributed Brillouin Fiber Laser Sensors

Distributed fiber sensors are a powerful tool for structural health monitoring and environmental sensing due to their ability to remotely monitor the strain at 1,000s of locations using low-cost optical fiber.

News

Green Design & Manufacturing

Recaro Pioneers Seating Shells Made with CF Recyclate

The green flag is about to drop on an auto-racing first: a seat shell infused with recycled carbon fiber.

Briefs

Unmanned Systems

Deep Reinforcement Learning Achieves Multifunctional Morphing Airfoil Control

Uncrewed aerial vehicles are growing in popularity for both civilian and military applications, which makes improving their efficiency an attractive objective.

Technical Innovation

Materials

Liebherr Reveals ‘Hybrid’ CFRP Cylinders and Parallel-Pump Concept

Reducing weight from components and systems is a major trend in passenger vehicles to boost fuel efficiency and driving range.

Briefs

Energy

Biobased Carbon Fibers and Thermosetting Resins for Use in DOD Composites Applications

The aim was to use renewable resources derived from plants and other sources to prepare high-performance carbon fiber and thermosetting matrix resins with high strength and high thermal resistance.

Technology Report

Manufacturing & Prototyping

Altair Honors Innovations in Sustainability and Lightweighting

Ford follows up its top prize in last year’s Sustainable Product category – for the Mustang Mach-E – with another electric-vehicle winner, the 2022 F-150 Lightning. The...

News

Materials

Launching Aerospace Battery Tech for EVs

Advanced materials and energy storage company Nanoramic Laboratories is in the early stages of a 30-month project to develop a low-cost/fast-charge Li-ion battery for electric vehicles using its...

Briefs

Energy

Rechargeable Cement-Based Batteries

An entire 20-story concrete building could store energy like a giant battery.

Briefs

Materials

Biobased Carbon Fibers and Thermosetting Resins for Use in DOD Composites Applications

Advanced bio-based fibers and high-performance thermosetting resins will help reduce the dependence of military composites on high-cost petroleum.

Briefs

Test & Measurement

Bioenvironmental Engineering Guide for Composite Materials

Develop a comprehensive baseline for identifying, evaluating, and controlling occupational and environmental hazards associated with composite fibers.

Technology Report

Connectivity

Ford’s Mielewski Envisions Broad Portfolio of Renewable Materials

A broad portfolio of renewable materials is available now that can help the automotive industry reduce its carbon footprint. Many of these new materials exceed the...

Technology Report

Manufacturing & Prototyping

All-Composite EV Wheel Heads to Production

Designed for EV and niche applications, the first commercially viable, low cost, lightweight, all-composite wheel moves to the next phase of development with a pilot production run. The...