Project Dream

Business Activities and Structure

The Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is one of the two technical universities in Switzerland financed by the Swiss Federal State. Its missions are education, research and technology transfer at international level. Today, EPFL employs about 2500 persons (scientists and staff) and offers education to about 7000 students (undergraduate and Ph.D.).
EPFL represents in this project a consortium of three university and one SME. These are as follows:

EPFL-LTC: The Polymer and composite technology laboratory (LTC) is active since 18 years in polymer composite processing with the mission to develop the next generation of composite materials and technologies, including adaptive composites.

ETHZ-CST:The Centre of Structure Technologies within the ETH-Zurich was established in 1998 by Prof. Paolo Ermanni. It is committed to a long-term sustainable development of our society by delivering cutting-edge research in the field of polymer composites, adaptive materials and structures.

EMPA- Materials Modelling and Simulation:This laboratory deals mainly with experimental, theoretical and numerical characterisation and modelling of materials for high-performance structural systems. A special focus is given to the characterisation of active and passive materials for smart structures.

Composites Busch SA: This SME can draw on almost 20 years of experience in the field of high performance composites and in particular using the RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding) process, to develop and manufacture state-of-the-art long fibre reinforced parts.

EPFL and DREAM

Our “Swiss consortium” involvement is in the development of concepts for passive flutter control for the composite rotor fan blades. Two potential solutions are investigated:

Concept 1: Development of passive vibration suppression concepts using shunted piezoelectric material. We propose the investigation of multidisciplinary approaches to the design and analysis of the integrated system for vibration suppression considering aeroelastic effects. Particular attention will be devoted to: (1) Investigation of optimum actuating and sensing concepts considering the influence of vibration damping device integration on the overall structural performance, (2) the development of appropriate RTM-manufacturing process strategies for smart composite structures and (3) step-by-step experimental validation program.

Concept 2: Development of passive vibration reduction concepts using SMA material. Shape Memory Alloys show inherently strong damping behaviour in the martensitic phase, and a large reversible and hysteretic deformation potential in the austenitic phase. SMA are available under the form of thin wires that can be embedded into the composite weave, or can by spray-coated as a thin film on the composite structure. For both routes, development and optimization of the material and process will be performed, simple demonstrators will be manufactured first at the laboratory scale and then as a small-scale fan blades .

We are taking part in DREAM as it is an opportunity to further develop smart composite materials and processing concepts in the field of aeronautics. Benefits expected from DREAM are, beyond the training of students and engineers in the smart composite field, the development of innovative solutions for composite damping. Also, the SME Composites Busch SA expects from this project to learn more about the application of different actuator technologies, their advantages and their limits in the composite-sector.