Verification and Validation of software tools for materials and microstructure characterization

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Advanced Computing and Software; Advanced Materials The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: This topic seeks to implement verification and validation processes into software workflows designed to characterize microtexture in Titanium alloys, which is strongly linked to dwell fatigue life of a jet engine. DESCRIPTION: There has been work done in both industry and the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop algorithmic workflows to quantify microtexture in Titanium, a key predictor of dwell fatigue in military engines. The goal of this effort is make these characterization workflows more robust by implementing verification processes (automated), such as unit tests, to build confidence that the workflows are operating as intended regardless of upgrades/changes to software. An additional expected outcome is the management of these software workflows by a small business to support industry. Verification efforts should rely on data provided by industry to guarantee the workflows are running as intended. Furthermore, validation efforts should be accomplished in concert with customers/industrial partners to ensure accurate, practical application. PHASE I: As this is a Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) topic, no Phase I awards will be made as a result of this topic. To qualify for this D2P2 topic, the Air Force expects the applicant(s) to demonstrate feasibility by means of a prior Phase I-type effort that does not constitute work undertaken as part of a prior or ongoing SBIR/STTR funding agreement. The applicant should have defined a clear, immediately actionable plan with the proposed solution and the AF customer. "Phase I-type" efforts include having demonstrated feasibility via developed microstructure characterization workflows, utilizing real or synthetic data. Examples of existing workflows might include: segmentation of microtexture regions in Titanium alloys for predicting dwell fatigue failure and synthetic generation of microtexture regions to generate automatic ground truths for unit testing. Critically, a customer for these workflows should be identified, and evidence of collaboration and a letter of support is highly recommended. PHASE II: This Phase II effort is primarily concerned with the verification of existing workflows to characterize microtexture in Titanium alloys with identified customers of these workflows. Developing automated unit tests, documentation of other verification processes and creating benchmarks to assess the efficacy algorithms are encouraged. Developing new algorithms and workflows may be OK in some situations, but should not come at the expense of verifying existing workflows and developing benchmarks, and must be well justified. It is expected that most of the workflows will involve traditional computer vision or physics based modeling that is to say, verifying/validating artificial intelligence and machine learning based tools are not the focus in this effort. It is strongly suggested that the proposers work with the customers to acquire data suitable for verification, and in some simple cases, validation, and evidence of collaboration and a letter of support is highly recommended. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III or Phase II enhancements shall include collaborative efforts with the customers to validate and support the verified workflows. Phase III shall provide businesses workflows that have been verified and validated to an acceptable degree, as deemed by the customer. Options for service contracts for continual support based on these efforts should also be provided. Expected Technology Maturity Level (TML): 3; Expected Technology Readiness Level (TRL): 7 REFERENCES: 1. M. Groeber, M. Jackson, "Dream.3D: A Digital Representation Environment for the Analysis of Microstructure in 3D". https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/2193-9772-3-5. 2. A. Pilchak, J. Shank, J.C. Tucker, S. Srivatsa, P.N. Fagan, S. Lee Semiatin, "A dataset for the development, verification, and validation of microstructure-sensitive process models for near-alpha titanium alloys". https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40192-016-0056-1. 3. B. Cowles, D. Backman, R. Dutton, "Verification and validationg of ICME methods and models for aerospace applications". https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/2193-9772-1-2. KEYWORDS: microstructure quantification; software; unit tests; verification; validation; digital twin; microtexture; Titanium dwell fatigue; microtexture