Project description
Redefining the design of smart metastructures
Four-dimensional (4D) printing technology has paved the way for a plethora of new possibilities in additive manufacturing. Smart materials have redefined the way we design, manufacture and interact with objects, which are now able to self-assemble. However, a lot is yet to be discovered about these smart reinforced metastructures (SRMS) until we can fully exploit their potential. The EU-funded SRMS project aims to improve the design of metastructures and the quality of engineering structures. Therefore, it will develop innovative methods to design 4D-printed SRMS with nonlinear structural damage detection capabilities. To assess damage types, the project will apply for the first time ultrasonic wave actuation to composite metastructures. Project work will lead to structures with unprecedented energy absorption capabilities.
Objective
Using additive manufacturing methods and the capability of introducing meta structures by four dimensional (4D) printing technology, the study of smart reinforced meta structures (SRMS) is one of the most attractive areas of research. Literature survey reveals that there is the lack of comprehensive research in this area. Therefore, there is a good potential to improve the design of meta structures using fiber-reinforced composite materials and to optimize and improve the quality of engineering structures. The proposed research program will deliver a novel, robust, efficient and accurate methodology for designing the 4D printed reinforced meta structures with nonlinear damaged structural segments. In addition, for identifying the existence of a certain damage type the ultrasonic wave actuation will be employed which has never been applied on composite meta structures before. To proceed the project, the 4D printer set up will be developed for fabricating the SRMS lattice structures for the first time. To examine the capacity of absorbed energy, the fabricated SMRS will be undergone the virtual and real experimental tests. Realization of the results of this research will make it possible to design structures with high energy absorption capacity that have suitable mechanical properties including higher special absorb energy to ideal weight. To characterize and monitor the potential damage mechanisms formed in the structures, ultrasound measurements will be employed for the first time in tessellated composite structures. For this aim, after calibrating ultrasound sensors, at different level of applied compressive load, the piezoelectric transducer excites propagating waves within the composite meta structures. The outgoing reflected and transmitted waves will be used for on quantifying and identifying damage.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcomposites
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringadditive manufacturing
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesacousticsultrasound
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
3000 Leuven
Belgium