Chiara Bisagni's KTH Solid Mechanics KEYNOTE seminar "Advanced Aerospace Composite Structures: Stability as a Design Tool"

Chiara Bisagni Feb 27 2025.pdf (pdf 140 kB)

Abstract. All structural designers know that their structures must satisfy two basic criteria: the strength criterion and the stiffness criterion. In aerospace, an additional criterion has always been considered for thin-walled components subjected to compression or shear stresses: the stability criterion. Buckling phenomena are difficult to computationally analyze due to high geometric nonlinearity, especially in the case of composite panels and shells. New design methodologies will be presented for the development of innovative thin aerospace composite structures that operate in the post-buckling field. A paradigm shift in design concepts will be introduced, considering buckling not as a phenomenon to avoid, but as a favorable behavior to actively exploit. This will be presented alongside new challenges related to the design and analysis of these structures. The developed design methodologies consist of an integrated mathematical formulation based on finite element analyses, validated by experiments using advanced test techniques. These methods also have the potential to enhance the role of modeling and simulation for aerospace composite structures from preliminary design to certification. The results of recent projects will be presented along with the design methodology that is the primary focus of the ongoing ERC Advanced Grant NABUCCO