Goal of the Present 5-year Project:

This project aims at developing novel form of intelligent structures through the fusion between functional multi-materials and sensing technologies. Especially, we focus on interactions between fluids and intelligent structures to create energy-saving effects, and develop its academic infrastructure. For the purpose, we organize an international research team consisting of Tohoku University, Universities in Lyon and Grenoble, Fraunhofer Institute for NDT and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and accelerate the development of smart layered materials and structures for energy saving. The following three targets are tackled in this project:

1. 1) Smart carbon fiber composite materials with built-in sensing and boundary layer control functions.
2. 2) Development of intelligent structures with smart heat transfer, vibration suppression and lubrication functions.
3. 3) Novel energy plant materials with gradient passive films for improvement of corrosion resistance.

Outlines of the Project:

1)Joint research

To conduct research on novel intelligent structures using multi-materials for energy saving, the following fundamental topics are tackled:

1. a) Optimization of design of multi-material system
2. b) Creation of novel functions through interaction with fluids
3. c) Smart sensing embedded in layered structures

Based on them, following application will be realized through the joint research.

1. A) Smart carbon fiber composite materials with built-in sensing and boundary layer control functions.
2. B) Development of intelligent structures with smart heat transfer, vibration suppression and lubrication functions.
3. C) Novel energy plant materials with gradient passive films for improvement of corrosion resistance.

2)Seminar

In order to share the information of results of each topic among the international teams, and to extract academic infrastructure for smart layered materials and structures for energy saving, the project seminar will be annually held. In addition, to foster future researcher of this field, summer school is also annually held. The topics include fluid dynamics, multi-materials, maintenance, non-destructive testing, nano-science.

3)Exchange of researchers

We will promote alliance among international master courses, International Master of Nanoscale Engineering in Lyon, International Master Course in NDT in IZFP, IMAC-G in Tohoku University. We also encourage young researcher to stay abroad in joint laboratories in Japan, France, Germany and China.

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