IUL

During the summer of 2024, I was accepted into the Ruhr Fellowship program which selects 11 students from the U.S and matches them with internships in Germany. I was a research intern at the Institute of Lightweight Technology and Forming Components (IUL) at TU Dortmund.

During my internship with the IUL, I worked under Dr. Hamed Dardaei to analyze the effects of ball-burnishing on the mechanical properties of additively manufactured flat sheets. Using the HG19 tool, I varied pressure, step-over, and burnishing strategy and measured the changes in surface roughness, waviness, and residual stresses of the steel samples. I also evaluated surface hardness with the Vickers test and measured tensile strength. I learned about uniform elongation percentage, and its relation to ultimate tensile strength.

Beyond technical skills, I developed soft skills by creating effective presentations and collaborating with diverse colleagues. This experience was invaluable, and I will carry these lessons into my academic and professional career.