With new generation smart materials, lighter and safer structures are possible

Aircraft bodies, submarines, pressurized pipelines, energy facilities, and industrial tanks are areas where cylindrical structures can now be built more safely and durably. Thanks to advancing material technologies and innovative design approaches, the weight of such structures can be reduced while increasing their resistance to harsh environmental conditions.

In the scientific study conducted within this scope, the safety of cylindrical structures exposed to external pressure and temperature changes was addressed. The study examined how to reduce the risks of sudden deformation and collapse of these structures, which are of critical importance in maritime, energy, and industrial applications.

In the study, new generation sandwich structures with graphene-enhanced advanced materials on their surfaces and special cellular structures (auxetic structures) exhibiting unconventional mechanical behavior in the core were evaluated. It was demonstrated that this smart material approach increases the strength of the structures while also providing the advantage of lightness.

The research results show that these types of structures:

• Exhibit higher resistance to external pressures,
• Are less affected by temperature increases,
• Have an even higher safety level under suitable support conditions

are demonstrated.

The study also offers an approach that allows engineers to quickly and reliably evaluate different design options before resorting to complex and time-consuming analyses. In this aspect, the research provides a significant practical contribution to engineering design processes.

This comprehensive study concretely demonstrates the potential of smart materials in terms of safety and efficiency in engineering structures. The findings obtained for designing cylindrical structures with buckling risk more safely serve as an important reference in many fields, from aviation to maritime and energy systems. 

This scientific study conducted by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Çalık, a faculty member at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, and published in the journal Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics (SCI Q2), stands out as a significant contribution that strengthens the role of advanced materials in engineering applications.