AESDO (Aircraft and Engine Structural Design and Optimization)

AESDO Group (Aircraft and Engine Structural Design and Optimization) is involved in research activities about the more innovative aspects of aeronautical and space structural design and optimization. Moreover, AESDO Group has a main role in the experimental activities of the laboratory “LAQ-AERMEC Aeromechanical Structural Systems”.

The research activity is based on 5 main areas. For each of them, the mutual interaction between numerical modelling and experimental validation is a key feature of the Group activity

  • Innovative materials characterization – Development of simple models providing the equivalent engineering constants, density and other main properties for complex honeycomb, corrugated and metallic foam geometries for sandwich structures application.
  • Modelling of composite structures – Formulation, implementation and enhancement of refined beam and plate theories and finite elements for static, dynamic, buckling, impact-response and failure analyses of undamaged and damaged composite and sandwich multilayered structures (collaboration with dr. Alexander Tessler, NASA Langley Research Center, https://rzt.larc.nasa.gov).
  • Impacts simulation – Low velocity impacts (quasi-static indentation tests on multilayered composite and sandwich structures, numerical evaluation of the contact area and of the pressure distribution), mid/high velocity impacts (numerical simulations and ballistic tests for the evaluation of engine internal impacts due to blade release and foreign/domestic objects, bird impact).
  • Optimization and probabilistic design – Design space exploration techniques (DOE), multi-objective and multi-disciplinary optimization methods that allow taking into account stochastic variation of design parameters (Reliability Robust Design), optimization of complex engineering systems.
  • Shape sensing and Structural Health Monitoring – Development of shape-sensing methodologies, i.e., reconstruction of the deformed shape of a structure from measured surface-strains (https://dimoss.net/), structural health monitoring and damage detection (numerical and experimental damage detection techniques, mainly based on strain and/or vibrations data).

"LAQ-AERMEC Aeromechanical Structural Systems" laboratory promotes, coordinates and carries out theoretical and experimental research, focusing on the thermomechanical simulation of aerospace systems and propulsion systems. This research work is instrumental in the development of innovative multidisciplinary design and testing methods, and in investigating and developing innovative methods supported by laboratory testing. The experimental activities take advantage of a number of facilities, sensors and acquisition systems, among which: a multipurpose testing machine for flat and curved panels, a set of gas-guns for ballistic tests, sensors, actuators and acquisition systems for experimental modal analysis.

For further details, download the group’s presentation AESDO application/pdf (3.07 MB).






Leader Staff Research fellows, PhD students, adjunct professors

Publications