STREAM

The STREAM project (intelligent and functionalized STRUCTURES for the improvement of aerostructural performance) was proposed by the DAC together with PoliMI and UniTN to the MIUR as part of the PON 2014-2020 and admitted to financing for €8.9 million with a duration of 42 months. The DAC operates as a leader towards the Ministry and implements the technical content activities of its own responsibility through the industrial partners Caltec and Tecnosistem and UniNa “Federico II, UniSa, CNR and ENEA as scientific partners.

Within the National Strategic Intelligence Strategy, the Aerospace Area is represented by different development technology trajectories with national priority, where environmental impact reduction is of fundamental importance

In this scenario, the search for “smart” solutions, possibly integrated between them, within the Aerospace area is strategic for a number of objectives that can be listed as follows: i) reduce aircraft costs, in terms of investment and use, as well as related to maintenance; (ii) improving performance and reliability of components and systems; iii) develop hybridization and integration solutions of components and systems with traditional and “smart” technology. In this context, the STREAM project is aimed at the development and optimization of advanced technologies, components and systems with “smart” features with priority applications in the field of aircraft functional surfaces. The project’s main research lines, integrated with each other, include the study of solutions for the functionalization of aerodynamic surfaces with riblet application, the definition of intelligent algorithms applicable to Structural Health Monitoring solutions, and the development of hydrophobic and de-icing. The project intends to develop the above-mentioned research lines in order to achieve the following goals:

  • the identification and development of advanced technological solutions to improve the performance and safety of aeronautical components and systems, with a view to reducing energy consumption and emissions;
  • modeling and testing of new functionalized surfaces with integrated capacities (SHM, anti and de-icing, reduction of aerodynamic friction);

Developed technological solutions, components and systems will be experimentally validated by using specific functional demonstrators and integrated solutions that will be specifically designed within the project.