Italian technological district for the engineering of polymeric and composite materials and structures
Italian technological district for the engineering of polymeric and composite materials and structures

PIROS

PUBLIC – PRIVATE LABORATORY on the Integrated Design of multifunctional components for applications in the railway and medium-sized transport sector, combined with the construction of special “facilities” for testing and qualification of materials under flame conditions.

IMAST members involved:

Partners

Objective:

The primary objective of the PIROS project was to develop new materials and related manufacturing processes for the construction of multifunctional structural systems made of polymer matrix composite materials for the railway sector or for medium-sized vehicles with good fire resistance and reaction properties.
Implementation of a numerical-experimental laboratory, i.e., a set of testing equipment, experimental methodologies, and numerical models, for studying the behavior of materials/components subjected to flame.

Objective achieved:

The final demonstrator configuration was optimized through the development of a multidisciplinary design methodology, integrating numerical models for predicting thermo-mechanical, vibro-acoustic, and fire degradation behavior.
A numerical-experimental laboratory was also established to analyze the flame behavior of materials/components according to standards and regulatory procedures (ISO, ASTM, etc.), both on a small and intermediate scale, including the analysis of combustion effluents.
Specifically, the validity of the experimental methodologies and techniques identified and developed was verified through the construction of demonstrators of two significant vehicle subsets with the following properties:

 

  1. Structural elements of railway vehicle bodies (floor and side) made of polymer composite with multifunctional fire resistance, structural characteristics and good acoustic properties:
    • 25% thickness reduction
    • 18% weight reduction
    • 39dB sound insulation
    • fire resistance under structural loads: UNI EN 1363-1; REI 15
    • structural resistance: max deflection 3/1000 of the span
  2. permanent magnet electric motor with special thermal and acoustic insulation properties.
    • thermal class 220°C
    • 21% reduction in engine size
    • 18% reduction in engine weight
    • sound insulation (α): 0.8
    • Transmission Loss: 8% (38dB)

Performance indicators:

  • 240 researchers involved (11% women and 8% new project contracts) with an average of 48 per year;
  • 16 scientific publications