Particle Shape Optimization For En Masse Vibration
The goal of this research project is to design and manufacture large scale particles which as a collection can toggle between a locked solid state and an unlocked liquid state by vibrating them at their resonant frequencies. Their states are highly dependent on the crystalline structures they form when packed together as well as how they act physically after packed to this state. So I will be implementing an algorithm which will generate an optimum packing of these particles simulate these particles being vibrated after this packing and finally optimize the particle shapes in order to match their desired properties. After generating candidate particle shapes I will manufacture these particles using 3-D printing and then testing to see if they match the algorithm’s results.

The SuperUROP program gives me a chance to spend more time pursuing a full fledged research projects along side my classes. I wish to pursue this project using knowledge I’ve learned from Wojciech Matusik’s Computational Fabrication and Computer Graphics classes as well as from previous experiences in writing real time and offline physics simulation engines.