Research
DARC is dedicated to become a world-class center for the most recent technological developments in expeditionary manufacturing, supermaterials, physics-informed machining, metals additive manufacturing and biodesigning.
UT is unique in its ability to scale-up from the microstructural level to full-sized components and systems. East Tennessee also has a large industrial network dedicated to manufacturing and power and energy. Our Department of War research highlights are in the following areas:
- Expeditionary Manufacturing
- Supermaterials
- Physics-informed Machining
- Metals Additive Manufacturing
- Biodesigning Novel Functions in Plants
- Convergent Manufacturing
- Next generation batteries for eVTOLs
Tennessee also boasts a significant federal R&D complex that includes Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL), Y12, Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC), and Navy Rapid applied materials, processing, and prototyping center (RAMP), Manufacturing USA’s Institute for Advanced Composite Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Importantly, Tennessee has military installations like Fort Campbell, the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and the TN Air National Guard.
Research Areas
Expeditionary Manufacturing
Expeditionary manufacturing provides manufacturing and repair capabilities at the point of need. DARC researchers are currently exploring advanced manufacturing technologies that can be ruggedized and used for expeditionary or mobile system repair.
Supermaterials
Supermaterials are advanced, engineered materials with exceptional properties such as extreme strength-to-weight ratios, high-temperature resistance, and enhanced conductivity. DARC researchers use neutron scattering, structural characterization, and AI to understand materials at the atomic scale and design new ones with tailored properties for defense applications.
Physics-informed Machining
Physics-informed machining sits at the intersection of advanced manufacturing and machining science, with a focus on the practical application of milling dynamics and tool path strategies within hybrid manufacturing environments.
Metals Additive Manufacturing
Metals additive manufacturing focuses on harnessing alternative metal additive manufacturing processes to replace lightweight castings and forgings with scalable, low-cost alternatives.
Biodesigning Novel Functions in Plants
The Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology (CASB) has innovated plant-based devices for strategic functions ranging from novel plant-based sensors to detect specific environmental stimuli to bioengineering of plant chloroplast compartments for biomanufacturing.
Convergent Manufacturing
Convergent manufacturing integrates multiple manufacturing processes—such as additive manufacturing, subtractive machining, and metrology—into a unified, optimized workflow to enable capabilities that cannot be achieved through any single process alone.
eVTOL
eVTOL is advancing next-generation hybrid eVTOL systems for Group 3+ UAS through integrated power, propulsion, and manufacturing innovations.
Prototypes
Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) Transmission Mount Cap
BFV Blue Force Tracker Mounting Brackets
Fan Shroud for BFV
Final Drive Housing for BFV/Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)
