Integrated Computational Materials Engineering: A Transformational Discipline for Improved Competitiveness and National Security

A new field of study is evolving within the materials profession called Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME). ICME involves development of unified materials models which integrate information across length and time scales and across knowledge domains and enables integration of analysis of manufacturing, design and materials into a holistic system. It promises to revolutionize the way the engineering community deals with materials and the way the materials community provides input to the engineering and scientific communities. ICME has significant potential for accelerating development of new materials and reducing the cost of development of new products. The talk will draw on the presenter's experience at Ford Motor Company in development and implementation of a successful ICME tool called Virtual Aluminum Castings. This talk will also describe the conclusions and recommendations of a recent National Academies report on ICME.