Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Integrated Refined Multiscale Approach for innovative lightweight structures

Project description

A smart way to create safer, more efficient lightweight structures

Metamaterials are a new class of engineered materials with unique properties not found in nature that could transform the design of lightweight structures. Created using advanced 3D printing techniques, these materials allow creating complex designs that are high-performing and sustainable. However, manufacturing constraints, material defects and high computational costs limit their full potential. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the IRMA project will help tackle these issues by developing an integrated approach to optimise lightweight structures. It will combine advanced numerical methods to address material defects and limits, multiscale modelling to refine structural behaviour and innovative optimisation methods to balance macro- and micro-level constraints.

Objective

The project aims to develop a new integrated approach for designing and optimising innovative lightweight structures. In recent years, material engineering has introduced a new class of material with mechanical properties not found in nature: metamaterials. Their exceptional properties are valuable in designing even more performant and sustainable lightweight structures. The complex design achieved by metamaterials is obtained by Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques. The effective mechanical properties are computed using multiscale homogenization approaches. Topology optimization at a multiscale level brings a great variety of functionalized metamaterial.
However, the multiscale approach has been fully developed only for solid models at a heavy computational cost. The AM process has its own manufacturability constraints that limit the optimization process. The defects and material limits need to be addressed to guarantee the component functionality and safety.
The IRMA project aims to provide a new approach for a fully integrated design of innovative lightweight structures.
The specific objectives are:
1. To formulate a refined approach for the multiscale structural behaviour of innovative lightweight structures;
2. To implement an integrated numerical solution to address micro-structural defects and limits of the metamaterials in lightweight structures;
3. To develop a new numerical optimization method that considers macro- and micro- model constraints to improve the design of lightweight structures using metamaterials.
The project is thoroughly designed to maximize training and transfer of knowledge to the host group. Project management, risks, communication and dissemination activities, including industrial partners, are carefully designed. My supervisor's experience, the full integration in his group (CAMMS), and the CIMNE-CERCA resources are the perfect ingredients for developing the IRMA project.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

CENTRE INTERNACIONAL DE METODES NUMERICS EN ENGINYERIA
Net EU contribution
€ 181 152,96
Address
C GRAN CAPITAN, EDIFICI C1, CAMPUS NORD UPC SN
08034 Barcelona
Spain
Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
No data