Hydrogen is the simplest atom there is – just a proton and an electron – and when you burn it, not only do you release a lot of power per pound of fuel, but the byproduct is simply water vapor. Jeffrey Goldmeer, Emergent Technology Director for Decarbonization at GE Gas Power and one of their resident experts on hydrogen talks with Jeffrey Winters, editor in chief of Mechanical Engineering magazine and describes recent advances that allow hydrogen to replace natural gas in power plants.

Generative computer-aided design is typically compared to how nature creates. When a tree grows, it will naturally find the strongest footing and the best path toward sunlight. The tree doesn’t grow unnecessary limbs; it is efficient in the way it expands outward. Generative design operates in the same way. Engineers designate their material and the constraint design points, and the generative CAD software automatically creates a part that meets the strength and load criteria in the most efficient design possible. The next step for generative design is to introduce AI and automation to the process. Colin Swearingen is a design solution consultant for Dassault Systemes. He discusses how generative design is being used by engineers today and how the tool is evolving into cognitive augmented design.

Dr. Lonnie Love is a corporate fellow and section head over precision manufacturing and machining at the U.S. Dept of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He leads many of the large-scale additive as well as advanced manufacturing for defense programs at the lab. His team has demonstrated advanced manufacturing technologies on several high-profile projects, including the first 3D-printed car. Here, he talks about what is coming in large-scale 3D printing.

The electric vehicle is positioned to become the vehicle of tomorrow. Major manufacturers such as Ford and GM are now joining the ranks of Tesla, debuting new fleets of electric cars. According to BloombergNEF, by 2030, the electric vehicle fleet will reach 116 million across the globe, up from an estimated 8.5 million units in 2020. BloombergNEF’s Nick Albanese, head of intelligent mobility, and Milo Boers, lead modeler of electric vehicle outlook, share insights from the Electric Vehicle Outlook report of 2021 and discuss the future outlook of the electric vehicle industry. The report highlights ongoing trends in the EV industry and how shared auto-mobility, battery manufacturing, and autonomous driving will change from now out to 2050.

In any industry, understanding how to apply computer modeling toward practical installation solutions is a challenge. To help engineers, simulation software can help anticipate the design requirements for proper installation. Concluding our three-part series, Doug Fast, technical leader for industrial mineral wool, and Alec Cusick, a technical services engineer from Owens Corning, discuss how engineers can turn acoustic modeling and simulation into real-world piping systems design solutions. 

As NASA plans to returning astronauts to the Moon and future long-duration exploration missions, additive manufacturing will continue to play a greater role in the future of space. One of additive’s most exciting areas is bioprinting of living cells. Indiana-based aerospace company TechShot’s Chief Scientist Eugene Boland, who is currently leading the team that manages the 3D Biofabrication facility aboard the International Space Station, discusses the advances and challenges of bioprinting in space.

With a lack of clear understanding of the industry standards and the difficulties in laboratory testing, engineers have had many challenges when designing acoustic insulation for piping systems. The engineers at Owens Corning look to solve the problem by introducing a new method of modeling and simulation that can accurately predict a piping system’s acoustic insulation need. Doug Fast, technical leader for industrial mineral wool, and Kevin Herreman, a principal acoustic scientist from Owens Corning, sit down for part two of our series on piping system design and how engineers can leverage the power of simulation to design more efficiently and accurately.

The challenges surrounding the piping industry are multi-faceted. One of the significant issues is proper guidance on sound insulation. While there are test methods and houses that can help engineers predict the required acoustic insulation, understanding the exact requirements for proper insulation can be challenging—one many engineers make retroactively on-site. Owens Corning is introducing new simulation software that helps predict the insulation requirements, and engineers can create predictive design models to reduce costs and improve installs. Doug Fast, technical leader for industrial mineral wool, and Kevin Herreman, a principal acoustic scientist from Owens Corning, discuss the challenge engineers face when designing piping systems and their acoustic insulation requirements.

As the manufacturing supply chain starts to shift into the digital space, firms large and small will explore new opportunities in on-demand manufacturing as a service. Xometry, a leading AI-enabled digital marketplace where buyers can source on-demand manufactured parts and assemblies, has helped companies of all sizes explore digital manufacturing possibilities. Greg Paulsen, director of application engineering at Xometry, walks us through how companies like NASA and BMW have leveraged on-demand manufacturing.

The supply chain experienced significant disruption last year as the pandemic wreaked havoc across several industries. Digital manufacturing as a service has aided companies in transitioning traditional manufacturing processes to an online platform. Companies now have access to a multitude of vendors and suppliers at their disposal, creating new opportunities for faster production times and new manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing. Greg Paulsen, director of application engineering at Xometry, discusses with Mechanical Engineering how the supply chain has shifted and the future of digital manufacturing.