The present proposal of research activity considers the development of techniques of design and manufacturing of distributed networks of energy harvesters for aerospace applications. The realization of such components requires from both the design and manufacturing point of views to consider the necessity to embed within the structural element of circuits, harnessing and electronic devices. Moreover, the design of distributed networks requires a deep analysis of the considered application in terms of system and mission requirements in order to define the best harvesting methods together with the performance it has to guarantee.
The research will consider
- System analysis of various aerospace applications
- Energy harvesting methodology (application dependent)
- Mathematical modeling
- Manufacturing process
Specifically, the following test case will be considered:
- Sensorised wing
- Sensorised tissue (inflated structure) for stratospheric applications
The considered test-cases will permit to apply the developed conceptual methodologies and to demonstrate their appeal for advanced industrial applications. Moreover, the sensorised wing and tissue (inflated structure) will be tested in a wind tunnel and the system will show its ability to harvester energy. Together with the experimental study different energy harvesting approach will be considered in relation to various aerospace applications by considering and studying how they affect the overall system performances.
The idea behind the present project is the synergic use of composite structures, smart materials, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Composite materials are based on the idea that different materials can be used together to synergistically improve the overall properties of the structural system from the point of view of strength, stiffness, and lightweight. They find a huge amount of applications in the automotive and aerospace industry because of their high structural performance and low density. By introducing smart materials and electronics devices within a traditional composite material is possible to improve the system values not only related to the usual structural performance but also considering multi-domain features as the energy harvesting is. Indeed, this means to give to the system the capacities possibly to gather energy from its operational conditions (energy harvesting property). The gathered energy can be used in order to supply embedded sensors, to transmit their information or to supply actuators. Moreover, it is important to point out that the developed approach for the energy harvesting can be easily extended to others distributed networks of sensors and actuators (which are the others features characterizing a smart structure).
Thus, the following main points of innovation of the present project:
1. Improving the design workflow of distributed networks of energy harvesters
2. Definition of strategies of embedding electronics and circuits within structural elements
3. Assessment of advanced manufacturing techniques for the realization of circuits
4. Development of sensorised structures able to gather energy from their operational conditions
can be summarized and collected in the idea of applying at best of their capabilities the smart structures paving the way to the definition of self-powered of large distributed networks of sensors and actuators which are the next frontier for the development of real-time structural health monitoring.
Moreover, the activities of the present project will permit also an advancement in the knowledge of the technological process behind the realization of complex smart structures.
In terms of technology transfer, the proposed innovation paves the way to a scenario of possible applications/products that might be developed in different areas of engineering.