UW partnership with Lamborghini leads to more than just fast cars

They look like cars, but they sound more like jet engines. It was hard to ignore the Lamborghinis that took over the lawn in front of Guggenheim Hall yesterday as part of the dedication of the UW’s Automobili Lamborghini Advanced Composite Structures Laboratory.

However, this display was far more than a car show. Since 2007, Assistant Professor of Aeronautics & Astronautics Paolo Feraboli has worked as director of the now dubbed Lamborghini lab, leading students in their efforts to test composite material used in the construction of these elite sports cars.

“We do quality control — destructive and non-destructive evaluations of composite materials,” said Francesco Deleo, a Ph.D. student working in the lab. Specifically, they focus on materials such as carbon fiber, he said.

“Reinforced plastics are extremely light and extremely strong and stiff. When you want speed in respect to strength, this is the material you choose,” said Feraboli, who worked at Lamborghini from 2001-2002.

“Lamborghini wanted to increase the power-to-weight ratio,” he said. “Instead of increasing horsepower, they are decreasing the weight.” By using carbon fiber instead of aluminum, for example, a car can be lighter, faster and, according to Feraboli, also safer.

But the use of composites like carbon fiber does not only apply to the design of supercars, like the Lamborghini Murcielagos on display yesterday.

“The reason that Lamborghini is here is because of Boeing as well as UW,” Professor Feraboli said. He and his students explained that up to 70 percent of the Lamborghini lab’s research focuses on composite technology as it applies to aerospace design. They said that the research partnership between Lamborghini, Boeing and the UW is based on common principles, so their composite research contributes to producing a faster supercar as well as improving the design of the Boeing 787.

Among other things, students in the lab test for the effects of lightning strikes on their carbon fiber, do crash tests on Lamborghini frames, use an ultrasound machine to test the structural perfection of composites, and launch thawed frozen chickens through a small cannon to simulate the effects of a bird strike. Because of the similarity of the composite technology, Feraboli and his students can apply every test they do to both a Lamborghini sports car and a Boeing 787, making their partnership a truly unique and effective one.

Ultimately, Lamborghini’s goal is to develop affordable composite technology to improve the construction of their cars, as well as those of mass-market car companies like Toyota or Volkswagen, whom they expect will eventually apply composite technology to their own models.

Although the lab opened several years ago, Professor Feraboli said it is continually evolving with the addition of more space and new technology. Yesterday’s dedication was attended by corporate partners in the composites industry, representatives of the companies involved, guests of Lamborghini and, of course, curious students, who all observed the unique partnership between Lamborghini, Boeing and the UW.

During his brief speech, UW President Mark Emmert called this a “wonderful partnership that brings together two great organizations.” When he spoke, Boeing Executive Vice President Scott Carson expressed his hope that this lab would “create excitement among a new generation of engineers” and his belief that “the benefits [of this partnership] will be long lasting.”

Feraboli explained why Lambhorghini specifically chose to work with the University of Washington.

“We are one of only two centers where the FAA sponsors safety and certification. We do not do research on new materials. If a company is interested in that kind of rigor, they’ll come here.”