This section highlights the close partnership between our Structural Optimization Research Group and the industrial sector. Our team actively collaborates with leading companies to apply cutting-edge research in topology optimization and structural design to real-world engineering challenges.

By working closely with industry partners, we ensure that our research has a direct impact on product innovation, efficiency, and performance improvements. Through joint projects, technology transfer, and customized optimization solutions, we help businesses stay at the forefront of engineering advancements while providing our researchers with valuable insights into industry needs and applications.

Our commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry allows us to develop practical, high-performance solutions that drive technological progress and create competitive advantages for companies across multiple sectors.

• Insert optimization with continuum fiber - This colaboration originated from a technical challenge related to fiber insertion in a thin stiffener of a pplate, which led to its development as part of an Elkartek project involving a cluster of companies. Our expertise was leveraged to provide a practical solution by designing a specialized insert that effectively replaces fibers in that specific region.

To address this issue, we developed a custom algorithm capable of placing the specified amount of concentric fibers while also optimizing the interior fiber's orientation to maximize structural performance. The insert was not only successfully designed but also manufactured and rigorously tested, demonstrating its effectiveness in solving the identified problem. 

• Structural verification of a ladle and a spouted ladle - Our team has consistently provided structural verification services to Aceros Olarra S.A., ensuring that their melt steel treating structures meet the highest standards of safety and performance. Due to the regular updates and modifications required in these critical components, our expertise in structural analysis and optimization has been instrumental in helping the company maintain efficiency, reliability, and compliance with industry regulations.

• Thermo-mechanical stress reduction on a train-wheel's web - In collaboration with CAF, our research team was tasked with analyzing and reducing thermo-mechanical stresses generated during the braking maneuver of a freight train. High stresses in the wheel’s web can lead to fatigue, deformation, and reduced lifespan, making optimization crucial for ensuring safety and durability.

To address this challenge, we applied an advanced shape optimization technique known as the Adaptive Response Surface Method (ARSM). This method allowed us to systematically refine the geometry of the wheel’s web, reducing stress concentrations while maintaining structural integrity.

As a result, we successfully developed an optimized design that significantly reduces thermo-mechanical stresses, achieving the project’s objective and contributing to the improvement of railway component performance.