Anagrafe della ricerca

Mechanical constitutive models serve as the foundation for the design of engineering structures and components. However, as traditional constitutive models are empirically derived for specific materials based on experimental observations, their calibration or extension to new materials, as the ones characterised by heterogeneity, anisotropy and non-linearity is challenging. It is known, across different sectors, rubber-like materials and 3D-printed foam materials exhibit complex behaviours which necessitate advanced characterization techniques to accurately capture their response under loading. Rubber-like materials are widely used in aerospace, automotive, and robotics, where they often undergo large deformations while carrying loads. Thus, understanding their constitutive models is essential for proper design and optimization. In particular, silicone rubber, valued for its high-temperature resistance and stable mechanical properties over a wide temperature range, is commonly used in aerospace for applications requiring high safety standards, including shock-absorbing dampers, and seals in flight control systems and in thruster valve injectors. Similarly, 3D-printed foam materials are increasingly utilized across a wide range of industries as aviation, space and construction, considering their unique combination of lightness and notable specific resistance. This trend is largely driven by the progress in 3D printing technology, which has drastically reduced production costs and improved accessibility of these materials. Despite these improvements, the mechanical characterisation of foam materials represents a significant challenge due to the heterogeneity, anisotropy and non-linear material response. This knowledge gap limits the full potential and practical implementation of such materials. Among the various types of foam materials, 3D printed foam concrete (3DPFC) is gaining appeal in the construction industry, for its thermal insulation, customizable properties, and its potential to reduce both material waste and work accidents. However, due to the anisotropy and heterogeneity resulting from its porous structure and the layer-by-layer 3D printing process, there is currently no accepted constitutive model for 3D-printed concrete. The primary goal of the CMDiscovery project is to overcome the current limitations in constitutive model discovery, starting with 3D printed foam concrete and then further widen its approach to other materials. To achieve this, a multidisciplinary strategy will be used, combining computational and experimental methods, including high-resolution X-ray Computed Tomography, which allows for the study of solids' internal architecture and the acquisition of critical information for characterizing material responses such as internal displacement fields.