Projects / Programmes
Design of cellular structures
January 1, 2017
- December 31, 2021
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.11.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Mechanical design |
|
| 5.01.00 |
Social sciences |
Educational studies |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T000 |
Technological sciences |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.03 |
Engineering and Technology |
Mechanical engineering |
| 5.03 |
Social Sciences |
Educational sciences |
Engineering design, cellular materials and structures, geometrical characterisation, computer modelling and simulation, experimental testing, integrated intelligent CAD systems, cognitive e-learning
Researchers (25)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
Cellular structures are increasingly being used in modern light-weight engineering applications due to their particular multi-functional properties, such as low relative density, efficient damping, high rate of deformation, high mechanical energy absorption, durability at dynamic loadings and fatigue, high thermal and acoustic isolation. Their mechanical (strength, stiffness, durability) and thermal (thermal conductivity) properties mainly depend on the base material (metal or non-metal), cell morphology (size and shape of the cells, open or closed cell structure), topology (regular or irregular cell distribution) and possible cell filler.
The inter-disciplinary composition of the research programme group with complementary excellent expertise enables to pursue the common research objective to improve the design and applicability of cellular structures in the next generation products through integrated experimental and computational engineering of cellular structures in the next six years. The research will be undertaken in two interconnected parts. One part will be concerned with non-destructive and destructive integrated experimental and computational engineering characterisation of existing and newly emerging cellular structures and systematic establishment of design rules for their application in engineering structures. For that purpose we intend to upgrade and develop methodologies for combined experimental-computational characterisation of base or RVE (Representative Volume Element) cellular structures in terms of their geometrical features and behaviour under different loading and operational regimes. The results of this research will determine most appropriate design parameters for their application.
The second part will be concerned with search of optimised cellular structures to achieve particular properties (auxetic behaviour, graded porosity etc.) on micro- and mezzo-level through dedicated 3D computational topological optimisation algorithms. The newly designed and optimised cellular structures will be fabricated with advanced layer additive technologies. The produced optimised structures will be subjected to complete characterisation of the part one.
We intend to supplement the extensive research results of both aforementioned parts by their systematic organisation and research of integrated intelligent CAD systems to build a useful decision support system for engineers to better facilitate their design process of cellular structures. Since we are the university research group, we also plan to develop dedicated e-learning systems, based on advances of cognitive science, to support wider dissemination of knowledge and understanding of cellular structures to practising engineers worldwide with aim to increase the awareness of cellular structures and their usefulness and that way hopefully contribute to their faster introduction into next-generation products.
Significance for science
The planned research in the coming period is of crucial importance for the development of science from multiple perspectives. Primarily because research will be focused on investigations of advanced cellular structures, which are increasingly being used in modern engineering and other structures. Development of capabilities to predict their response at various operating conditions and the ability to optimize their structure are fundamental for their more extensive use in the future. Comprehensive combination of research work is focused on achievement of internationally comparable research results that follow European and global research trends or are even defining the research trends in some respects (controlled spatially variable porosity).
The outcome of this research program will contribute significantly to the advancement of science in the field of geometric and mechanical characterization of cellular structures and will consequently contribute to development of new, advanced engineering cellular structures. Technological advances in the production of cellular structures in the future will allow for more controlled morphology and topology of pores, which will contribute to design of optimal engineering and other structures. The development of new, multi-layered composites with controlled porosity and improved functional properties is following the world trends.
Significant contributions to science in the area of design of machine parts and structures made of cellular structures will be made ?? through the development and construction of the test equipment for testing the cellular structure and the consequent development of computational models for predictions of their loading capacity, service life and reliability. New methodologies and processes will be necessarily developed during this research process due to specifics of testing different cellular structures, which will contribute to the development of science.
General tool for automatic evaluation of geometrical parameters of cellular structures will constitute a major breakthrough in the analysis of cellular structures. Newly developed geometry and computer simulation models of cellular structures and the implementation of large scale parametric computer simulations on the powerful HPC server system will contribute to better understanding of cellular structures behaviour under different operating regimes, which will further serve for making design recommendations. With appropriate design of intelligent support environment we expect new scientific discoveries in the fields of both applications of artificial intelligence, which will allow for further development of application solutions in the field of engineering sciences.
Significance for the country
The outcomes of the research programme will be significant for regional and general development of the profession and engineering practice, since systematic transfer of knowledge will enable Slovenian companies to gain access to knowledge and modern tools for the development of new products with cellular structures, which will significantly increase their global competitiveness. Performed characterization of various cellular structures and proposed ??design recommendations for their use in conjunction with the developed intelligent modular support environment will enable fast and cost-effective way of goal driven design and development of high quality innovative products with high added value, particularly for the automotive industry. The research group involves also a number of young researchers, with which it contributes also to education and formation of future top experts in the field.
It is envisaged that domestic manufacturers of aluminium products will become strategic suppliers of advanced aluminium products upon cooperation with the research team to support their adoption of new manufacturing technologies of cellular structures with variable porosity. The same is expected in the production of various plastic products and textiles, where the number of potentially interested companies is much more extensive. Research in the field of cellular textiles will contribute to the preservation of jobs in those textile companies that have already restructured their operations to development and production of technical textiles.
Cellular structures with controlled and optimized topology and morphology of cells can also be used in medicine (e.g. various implants, supporting elements, etc.) that relieve problems of the aging population and contribute to healthier life, which is essential both for the Slovenian and European society. The current experiments for instance also show that filling relevant voids in vehicles with cellular structures also helps to absorb as much as two times more impact energy in a collision, thus resulting in reduced deceleration of the vehicle occupants and thereby increasing their safety. Consequently is research of advanced cellular structures also of utmost potential importance for the society.
The cooperation of research group with many international research partners contributes to the promotion of Slovenia in the world and the international division of research, which is in some areas also led by the research group (geometric characterization and advanced computer simulations of cellular structures). Due to active research work in the field of cellular structures and the establishment of a broad multi-national research cooperation the research group will in the coming years undertake organization of the primary global professional-scientific conference in the field of cellular structures MetFoam in Slovenia.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
