Project Overview

NASA’s Big Idea Challenge for 2023 - the Lunar Forge - was an open-ended challenge to develop innovative technologies or processes that address some part of the metal production pipeline on the Moon. In particular, NASA emphasized technologies that enable the production of pressure vessels, support structures, pipe, metal extrusions, cable, etc. There was a major emphasis on design process for this project, including methodical idea generation and systematic decision making.

Concept Generation

Our team followed a systematic approach to idea generation, down-selection, and concept validation. Ask me about the design and ideation methods we used!‍Our efforts culminated in a proposal comprising two highly innovative but also highly risky system concepts:                 

1.  A method for rapidly quenching metal for the purpose of metal hardening by using an inert nitrogen gas quenching process
2. A novel method for manufacturing pressure vessels which incorporates an inflatable inner diaphram that acts as a mold around which heated metal feedstock could be wrapped to form the outter shell.

Results

I implemented Solidworks CFD simulation to model the heat transfer response of a metal workpiece as it is subjected to blasts of high pressure, high velocity nitrogen gas. The conclusion was a range of pressure and velocity values required cool the metal to a T6 metal hardness grade.

Ansys static structure simulations were used to model the elastic behavior of the inflatable diapgrahm component. Numerous materials with non-linear elastic properties were tested for use as the diaphram, and those that could withstand the modeled environment and applied forces were elected as candidates for further development.

Documents

• Final Deliverables Presentation: Culminating presentation of our findings
• Final Report: Final presentation including in-depth calculations and concept validation
• Team Report 2: Second update report including design concept selection and project plans
• Team Report 1: First update report including ideation methods and background research