2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Enhancing K-14 Education through the Study of Additive Manufactured Bioinspired Lattice Structures

Presented at Manufacturing Division (MFG) Technical Session 2

This study outlines the results and progress in the field of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) printing of bioinspired lattice components. Supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), this research highlights key developments, challenges, and prospects in the 3D printing domain. The mechanical properties of bio-inspired lattice structures, produced using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)-based 3D printing, are explored with a focus on two polymers: polylactic acid (PLA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which exhibit distinctly different mechanical characteristics. A triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) lattice structure is used to assess the impact of processing conditions on mechanical performance. Standardized tensile testing is employed to evaluate the mechanical properties of the printed components, shedding light on how varying conditions influence the strength and durability of these composites. In addition to advancing the understanding of TPMS structures for industrial applications, this research will significantly benefit K-14 teachers by providing hands-on exposure to advanced manufacturing techniques and materials. Their contributions will include integrating these findings into classroom curricula, enhancing STEM education, and equipping students with practical knowledge of 3D printing and material science. By engaging with this cutting-edge research, K-14 educators will help foster the next generation of engineers and scientists, promoting innovation and workforce development in additive manufacturing.

Authors

Dr. Md B. Sarder http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5502-7276 Bowling Green State University [biography]

Dr. Sarder is a professor & director of the School of Engineering at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). Prior to joining BGSU, he worked at the U.S. Air Force Academy as a distinguished research fellow. He served as an associate professor, and graduate director of the logistics, trade, and transportation program at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Dr. Sarder has a record of excellence in research, teaching, and services as evidenced by the number of funded grants, list of publications, outstanding teaching evaluations, and professional services in the national and international arena. Dr. Sarder spent more than 15 years in administration as a school director, department chair, graduate director, program coordinator, and assistant director of a research center. During his academic tenure, he developed a school of engineering, a school of aviation, two new engineering programs, a graduate logistics transportation program, and two university centers. Dr. Sarder authored 5 books and 7 book chapters. Two of his textbooks including Fundamentals of Economics for Applied Engineering (2nd edition) with CRC Press and Logistics Transportation Systems with Elsevier are being used in many universities nationally and internationally. Dr. Sarder published more than 100 scholarly articles predominantly on logistics and supply chain domains. He served as a PI and Co-PI on more than 30 grants ($5+ million) funded by several agencies including the US Department of Transportation, the US Department of Commerce, the US Department of Defense, and the National Science Foundation. He received numerous awards in research, teaching, and professional services.
Apart from academic pursuits, he is deeply involved in institutional and professional society activities. Dr. Sarder is actively engaged with the AABI and ABET. He serves or has served on the editorial board for several journals including Transportation Research Records, Complexity, and Journal of Enterprise Transformation. He also served as the editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Logistics Transportation Research. He founded the logistics & supply chain division within the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE) and served as the founding president of that division. He also served as Technical Vice President of IISE for three terms. Currently, Dr. Sarder is leading a student leadership board (SLB) and chairing the Future Faculty Fellows (3F) programs at IISE. He served on the College Industry Council on Material Handling Education (CICMHE) board, the academic committee of the Association of Operations Management (APICS), the Transformation Team on the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), the Research Committee of Intermodal Freight Transport committee, Freight Transportation Planning and Logistics committee of Transportation Research Board (TRB) among others. Dr. Sarder chaired the Industrial & Systems Engineering Annual Conference in 2016 and 2017, and the Engineering Lean Six Sigma Conference (ELSS) in 2013.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025

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