RESEARCH NEWS
Eurecat leads three European steel projects
The Eurecat technology centre is leading three European projects with a total budget of € 8.2- million to drive new solutions for advanced high-strength steel components for designing lightweight vehicles in the automotive industry and larger , more resistant and cost-effective wind turbines for offshore wind energy .
H2FORM3G project
The H2FORM3G European project , coordinated by Eurecat and with a budget of almost € 2.9 million , is exploring the effect of hydrogen on manufacturing third-generation advanced high-strength steel components for their use in the design of lighter vehicles .
“ Using high-strength steels can cut vehicle weight by 10 to 20 per cent due to their improved mechanical properties , yet these steels are also more susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement which can lead to premature fracture of components made of these materials ,” said Eurecat .
The H2FORM3G consortium , made up of eleven partners from four European countries , will therefore furnish the tools required to address the risk of crack generation during the forming of automotive components . To this end , the project will combine in-depth studies on the effect of hydrogen on the microstructure of steels with new advanced characterisation methodologies ( such as using synchrotron radiation and predictive modelling ).
“ The new characterisation methodologies and predictive models to be studied in the project will help to fast-track designing and optimising lighter steel automotive components ,” said Sílvia Molas , the project ’ s
coordinator and head of the Corrosion and Degradation Line at Eurecat ’ s Metallic and Ceramic Materials unit . “ Crash safety will also be improved through better knowledge of the behaviour of these materials by preventing cracks from emerging during forming .”
Steel4Fatigue project
Image : Marina Eolic / Unsplash .
Eurecat is also coordinating the European Steel4Fatigue project , which explores new optimised solutions for dynamic vehicle components ( such as the chassis and wheels ) by introducing new high-strength steels and technologies to reduce the weight of trucks and cars .
“ Steel4Fatigue will furnish the industry with new characterisation and simulation methods which will make it possible to develop and use new high-strength steels in structures subjected to cyclic loads ,” noted Sergi Parareda , a researcher in Eurecat ’ s Metallic and Ceramic Materials unit and the project ’ s coordinator . “ The project ’ s results will therefore help to establish steel as a lightweight , cost-effective and sustainable solution for the future of mobility .”
DURALINK project
The project has a € 2.7 million budget and eleven partners in its consortium from Spain , Sweden , Italy , Romania and France .
The DURALINK project , also led by Eurecat , is developing new solutions to extend the service life of welds and steel chains in newgeneration wind turbines , reducing their weight and making them more resistant to corrosion while cutting maintenance costs to make offshore renewable wind energy generation more competitive .
The project is to identify design opportunities for optimising floating offshore structures leading to reduced CapEx and OpEx for new offshore wind turbines . It will additionally innovate in areas such as protective coatings to minimise corrosion in structures , estimating the life of components and support structures , and new predictive models of mechanical degradation .
The project has a budget of more than € 2.6 million and involves seven partners from four European countries . Its results will be transferred to the wind energy , steel and heavy industry sectors and also shared with standardisation bodies to foster the use of the new coatings and high-strength steels developed in the project in floating wind turbines .
The three initiatives , which will run until 2027 , are funded by the European Union ’ s Research Fund for Coal and Steel ( RFCS ). n
https :// eurecat . org /
Fossil-free sailing yacht makes a splash
Over three years ago , the basis for a unique concept was laid by Foundation Zero — the construction of a completely fossil-free sailing yacht . Project Zero , as the initiative is known , seeks to unlock new zero-emission energy sources , rethinking fundamental issues regarding energy harvesting , savings , storage and energy management on the path to develop a new standard for marine travelling . Commissioned by Foundation Zero , a team of industry experts has assembled to bring this project to life including Dykstra Naval Architects , Vripack Yacht Design and Vitters Shipyard .
Construction commenced at Vitters Shipyard in 2022 . The classic-looking ketch bears an exterior design by Vripack , as well as an interior by the Dutch design studio , and
Dykstra Naval Architects is responsible for the naval architecture of this groundbreaking vessel . Project Zero launch is scheduled for 2025 .
“ To accomplish a fossil-free sailboat concept , the energy that is used on board needs to be produced on board . In the period between harvesting and consumption , it needs to be stored on board and this process needs to be carefully managed . To achieve an acceptable balance in the energy housekeeping within different operational scenarios , focus on each of these aspects is required ,” outlined Foundation Zero .
To advance energy generation , supply and consumption in all spheres , data on the project ’ s innovations and technological achievements will be made available through the open-source platform , foundationzero . org . The platform openly shares new ideas , designs , data and learnings to promote the use of renewable technologies and energy efficiency . n
https :// www . foundationzero . org /
ISMR February 2025 | ismr . net | 17