About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Accelerated Discovery and Insertion of Next Generation Structural Materials
|
| Presentation Title |
DARPA METALS: Introducing New Material Test Methods and Design Optimization Paradigms for Future Multi-Material Structures |
| Author(s) |
Andrew Detor |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Andrew Detor |
| Abstract Scope |
Traditional structural design adheres to a one-part-one-material constraint, forcing compromises in the performance and sustainability of manufactured hardware. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Multiobjective Engineering and Testing of Alloy Structures (METALS) program seeks to overcome this constraint by treating material composition as a continuous variable in structural design. This talk will introduce two core development thrusts of the program: (1) new test methods for rapid extraction of design-relevant material properties, and (2) computationally efficient frameworks for material-integrated design optimization. Together, these complementary advances aim to enable performance- and sustainability-optimized structures with spatially graded composition. An overview of the program’s goals, technical approach, and transition strategy will be introduced, followed by a series of deep-dive presentations from METALS principal investigators. Related ongoing materials and manufacturing efforts at DARPA will also be highlighted, along with potential areas for future investigation. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Characterization, ICME |