The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore is all geared up for a research and development (R&D) tie-up with Boeing. The US aircraft giant, which is planning the new 787 Dreamliner to be more efficient, wants part of the R&D work to be carried out by IISc, the first institute in Asia to have such a tie-up with Boeing.

‘‘The aim is making the new aircraft stronger, lighter and more efficient. For this, we will work on different materials and structures. We are planning to replace aluminum with laminated composites,’’ said professor S Gopalakrishnan of the Aerospace Engineering Department, IISc.

The IISc team has proposed the use of smart structures and lighter materials such as nano-materials, alloys and their composites.

As of now, IISc will focus on developing flaps for the aircraft fitted with smart sensors so that they can direct wind currents better, and the use of aluminum alloys in high temperature areas as well as landing gear boxes.

The designs will be tested in a virtual environment being developed at the IISc. Around 40 faculty members are involved in the project. Boeing has already announced that it would like to use composites for its new aircraft. Composites will cut the weight to one-third of the original. It is more corrosion-resistant and has longer life than aluminium. The manufacturing cost of these aircraft is high, but the life-term costs are much lower. Society for Innovation and Development (SID), the commercial arm of the institute, is the nodal agency for the tie-up. The research period is five years and the aerospace major will invest $5 million every year.