Final Report Summary - CHISMACOMB (CHIral SMArt honeyCOMB) The purpose of the project was to develop new concepts of cellular chiral materials with enhanced mechanical and dielectric properties, able to include in its microstructure sensor and actuators to be implemented in innovative smart sandwich structures. So far, only limited studies have been reported on the two-dimensional linear elastic properties of chiral materials and buckling load capability. Moreover, no attempt had been made to use chiral honeycombs and, in general, negative Poisson's ratio honeycombs as platforms for self-sensing structures for structural health monitoring and active microwave absorbers. The novel cellular material will be used to produce sandwich components with complex shapes, with self-health monitoring capabilities and electromagnetic compatibility characteristics with no detriment to the structural integrity of the components.This goal will be accomplished through the: 1. development of analytical and numerical models to evaluate different chiral cellular configurations in terms of their mechanical and dielectric properties. 2. design and manufacture a curved sandwich panel with optimised chiral cellular core configuration. Compared to current technology sandwich panels containing honeycomb core, the manufacturability of the dome-shape structure will be enhanced, with reduced in-plane buckling and residual stresses. 3. design and manufacture a sandwich panel with optimised chiral core with embedded PZT custom-designed sensors in the cellular microstructure for structural health monitoring applications to increase passenger safety in ship constructions. 4. design and manufacture a sandwich panel with optimised chiral core having custom-designed load impedance embedded in the cellular microstructure for multifrequency microwave absorption capabilities to decrease electromagnetic pollution and improve security and comfort of the European populations.The CHISMACOMB project took advantage of initial studies developed on chiral structural materials, and extensive body of knowledge accumulated during the last decade of development of structural health monitoring, microwave absorption, microsystems design and their applications. The project gave a final drive to produce groundbreaking technological alternative to currently available core materials for sandwich applications, with embedded smart sensing/actuating capabilities in their microstructure, and provide a competitive edge to European industry in the field of design of smart and structures. The most promising microstructure layouts were tested on large-scale specimens, including sandwich panels with sensors and electromagnetic actuator capabilities.The output of CHISMACOMB have not only confirmed the multifunctional characteristics of the chiral structural cores, but also produced new concepts and demonstrators for the smart materials communities, and new paradigms for electromagnetic compatibility applications. Related documents Final Report - CHISMACOMB (CHIral SMArt honeyCOMB)
