NABUCCO project develops adaptive composite structures for next-gen aircraft

The NABUCCO (New Adaptive and BUCkling-driven COmposite aerospace structures) research project, coordinated by Professor Chiara Bisagni from the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at Politecnico di Milano (Milan, Italy), is developing new concepts of adaptive composite structures — i.e., those capable of changing their shape during different flight conditions — by exploiting the phenomenon of structural instability, to be applied to next-generation aircraft.

Structural buckling is a phenomena that is generally avoided because it causes stiffness reduction, large deformations and can result in a catastrophic collapse. Conversely, NABUCCO hopes to “use buckling drawbacks in a positive way, to conceive, design and realize adaptive [composite] structures and aircraft morphing wings,” which have the potential to minimize drag and enhance efficiency. In particular, Bisagni will develop new design, analysis and optimization methods based on analytical formulations, neural network algorithms and an integrated, multidisciplinary design approach.

The project started in May 2023 and runs for 5 years until April 2028. Bisagni was award the €2.5 million ERC Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC), funding the internationally established researchers that will conduct the high-risk research projects under NABUCCO.

Bisagni is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), an Executive Council Member of the International Committee on Composite Materials (ICCM) and a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy.