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Structures and Materials<img alt="" src="http://webtest.cira.it/PublishingImages/FIG1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />https://www.cira.it/en/competences/strutture-e-materiali/Structures and MaterialsStructures and Materials<p style="text-align:justify;">​​​The Structures and Materials Unit has as overall strategic objective the study, the realization and characterization of advanced aeronautical and space structures. The aim is to increase the performance and reliability level through the development and use of innovative materials and advanced manufacturing technologies and the implementation of new design and analysis methods. This mission meets the industrial needs and is compliant with the main national and international research programs statement (EU-H2020, ESA, ASI, etc.).<br></p><p> </p><p>The realization of an aerospace structure that satisfies several requirements is extremely complex. It is integrated in its various phases, ranging from the definition of the architectural concept and structural analysis to the choice of materials and their characterization going through the development of new manufacturing technologies and testing, up to the certification or qualification of the structure itself.<br><br>In order to create innovation a strong vertical integration in the sector is needed aimed at achieving some technological research objectives such as:<br></p><ul><li><p>Design and certification cost reduction through the study and development of methods and advanced simulation models (FIG2a.jpg e FIG2b.jpg).</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The time and cost reduction of production and assembly phases through the study, the development and set up of new manufacturing and prototyping processes (FIG3.jpg). </p></li><li><p>The development of innovative and multifunctional high performance materials in order to reduce the weight (and then cost) of the structure (FIG4.jpg).</p></li></ul><p>The Structures and Materials Unit activities, in order to continuously pursue the above objectives, are therefore aimed at:<br></p><ul><li><p>Ensure, through the capabilities, competencies and tools, the development of research programs and projects of national and international interest and the specialist support to other CIRA Units for an effective performance of their missions.</p></li><li><p>Concur to the company's competitiveness on the market for the Structures and Materials sector by granting the definition and development of the distinctive competencies and tools.</p></li><li><p>Ensure compliance with the current regulations for aviation and space (FAR, CS, ECSS).</p></li></ul><p>Moreover, the Unit aims at playing a strategic role and becoming a national reference in the prototyping technologies of metallic and composite structures.</p><p> </p><p>The research areas include all the products of the aeronautics and space sectors (aircraft, helicopters, turbine engines, missiles, launchers, satellites) as well as military systems and fields outside of the aeronautics and space sectors (civil engineering, automotive engineering, shipbuilding, etc.).</p><p>In particular aerospace structures both in composite and metal have been conceived, designed and manufactured for regional aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft systems, re-entry space vehicles and hypersonic flight, thrust chamber for space and aeronautic propulsion.</p><p>The main products developed by the Unit are simple and complex numerical tools for the analysis, design and optimization of aerospace structures and materials. They are also structural prototypes able to demonstrate the feasibility of advanced manufacturing technologies.</p><p>The areas of expertise are defined by the following main scientific topics:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><strong>Innovative Materials</strong></li></ul><p>Advanced constitutive models, Non-linear homogenization methods for the mechanical properties of microstructured materials, Ablative composite materials, Surface science</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><strong>Manufacturing Processes on Metallic Materials</strong></li></ul><p>Additive technologies, Welding processes, Post-manufacturing treatments, Powder metallurgy</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><strong>Manufacturing Processes on Composite Materials</strong></li></ul><p>Aerospace structures design and prototyping, Automated manufacturing, Grid structures, Multifunctional composite structures </p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><strong>Aerostructures Design and Dynamics</strong></li></ul><p>Structural modelling, Topological structural optimization, Aeroelastic modelling, Structural dynamics (shock spectrum, random vibration, transient analysis), Progressive Failure Analysis, Fracture mechanics, Flight Loads and Ground Loads, Crash Analysis, Preliminary and detailed structural design, Virtual Testing, Virtual allowable, CAD/CAE</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><strong>Thermostructures and Thermal Control Technologies and Design</strong></li></ul><p>Thermostructural design and analysis, Design and analysis of thermal control system components, Aero-thermo-structural coupled modelling, Thermomechanical behavior simulation of space structures</p>

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The NextGenCTR unfurls its wings<img alt="" src="https://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Next%20Gen%20CTR_%20Wing%20INVAR%20main%20tool%20thermal%20test_0_0.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />https://www.cira.it/en/competences/strutture-e-materiali/il-nextgen-civil-tiltrotor-spiega-le-sue-ali/The NextGenCTR unfurls its wingsThe NextGenCTR unfurls its wingsThe article published on Clean Sky 2 website describes the important progress made by the program in 2020, thanks also to the contribution of CIRA.2021-06-20T22:00:00Z
Annual Review Meeting of NexGenCTR tiltorotr program<img alt="" src="https://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Annual%20Review%20Meeting%202021.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />https://www.cira.it/en/competences/strutture-e-materiali/annual-review-meeting-of-nexgenctr-tiltorotr-program/Annual Review Meeting of NexGenCTR tiltorotr programAnnual Review Meeting of NexGenCTR tiltorotr programOn 4th-5th May 2021 will be held the Annual Review Meeting. The main discussions relate to 2020 NGCTR programme activites and achievements.2021-05-04T22:00:00Z
CIRA involved in ESA Daedalus project<img alt="" src="https://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Daedalus.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />https://www.cira.it/en/competences/strutture-e-materiali/il-cira-nel-progetto-di-esplorazione-delle-cave-lunari-con-la-＂sfera-daedalus＂-per/CIRA involved in ESA Daedalus projectCIRA involved in ESA Daedalus projectThe development of dust mitigation technologies investigated by CIRA-Space Exploration Technologies Laboratory will be part of the Daedalus sphere robot equipment . The project is being evaluated by ESA's Concurrent Design Facility as part of a larger study of lunar cave mission concepts.2021-03-25T23:00:00Z