Aeronautical engineering - structural dynamics and aeroelasticity

Abstract

Presentations

Group 15: Abstracts of the presentations Presentation A : Presented by Lucia Bianchi and Antoine Poirier -Boulet. Presents a comprehensive review of self -healing materials . It goes through their definition and key performance index, as well as classification and healing me chanisms . It links the technology’s development with biomimetics and its approach to design inspired by nature. Finally, applications for self -healing materials are proposed for society in general, as well as for the space industry specifically . The aim of the presentation is to give an overview of the state of the art of technology , its development and potential applications, to a technical audience interested in the subject. Presentation B: Presented by Alessandro Crotta and Matteo Dall’Ora. Over the last years, space activities have increased significantly giving rise to new opportunities and technologies, together with new challenges and problems to face. More than 50.000 objects have bee n sent to space, but only less than 10% are intact today because of degradation and collisions with debris. As a consequence of the economic losses related to these problems, researchers had to think outside of the box exploring new innovati ve solutions . Among these, the so called “self -healing materials” allowing for autonomous repair without human intervention. The presentation , addressed to the technical management of a company, briefly expla ins their functioning principles and typologies , with a view on their TRL and market growth in the space sector . After a n estimation of the losses related to debris damag es, the potential of self -healing materials as a new way to reduce the amount of satellite replacements is pointed out , to promote R&D investments in project s focused on the topic . Presentation C : Presented by Matteo D’ Ambrosio and Letizia Montesano . In the last decades, self -healing materials have become increasingly appealing for countless applications as well as a hot to pic for innovative research. Taking as a foundation the 3.8 billion years of biological evolution that has made organisms extremely efficient at repairing themselves, current studies are looking to integrate these processes into leading -edge technologies, and maybe one day into every -day life. This presentation presents the basic concepts behind the healing process used in a wide range of materials to a non -technical audience, shedding light on a topic that is currently almost unknown outside of the technic al and scientific communiti es. After a brief history of the current state -of-the -art, a more practical over view on the current and future applications is provided. With increased scientific and industrial know -how, the efficient integration of self -healing materials into upcoming technologies will decrease their cost, enhance their capabilities, and they will become a sustainable alternative to wasteful practices carried out today. Presentation D : Presented by Antoine Poirier -Boulet . Short pitch highlighti ng the difficulties of sustained space exploitation and exploration due to damage in space caused by the harsh environment. Explains what self -healing materials are, as well as their potential benefits for the space industry. Finally, a quick overview of the market growth is presented. An opening to further contacts closes the presentation. The presentation aims at gaining the interest of the listener into organizing a further meeting to discuss investment opportunities in more detail .