GOALS

Green Optimizations by Additive-manufactured Lightweight Structures 

Project type: PRIN2022 – Italian Ministry for University and Research (MUR) 

Programme: Progetti di Ricerca di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale 

Call: PRIN 2022 

The GOALS (Green Optimizations by Additive-manufactured Lightweight Structures) project aims to explore new frontiers in additive manufacturing technology, spanning from conceptualization to final testing, while also introducing novel performance metrics, especially focusing on environmental impacts.

It seeks to redefine product optimization by harnessing the versatility offered by emerging additive technologies, particularly in printing multi-materials and heterogeneous objects with varying compositions, from the definition of methods for functionally graded additive manufacturing products (FGAM), to the product optimize+ation across different domains, until the definition of ad-hoc parameter introducing new engineering performance concepts beyond structural stresses and weight reduction, incorporating factors like noise, heat transfer coefficient, and product ergonomics. Environmentally, enhanced performance indices based on life cycle assessment (LCA) are devised, ensuring environmental impacts are considered in the final product design. Experimental tests including fused deposition modeling (FDM), furnace sintering and powder bed fusion are considered for automotive and aeronautical applications.

Project duration:09/2023 – 09/2025 

 Coordinator: University of Messina, Italy 

Partners: University of Padua (IT), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna (IT)

Total budget: 275.555 euro

UNIBO budget: 91.873 euro (co-funded by MUR) 

Scientific head for UNIBO / DIN: Prof. Alessandro Ceruti