Integrated Refined Multiscale Approach for innovative lightweight structures

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.