Gabriele Grosso named 2026 Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Experimental Physics Investigator - EurekAlert!

We’re sharing this article early to provide faster access to peer-reviewed, accepted research. It is citable and carries a permanent DOI. This version is subject to further edits and will be replaced automatically by the final Version of Record. All legal disclaimers apply. AbstractSewing is one of the established methods used to fabricate and assemble multilayer insulation (MLI) blankets for aerospace applications, yet the resulting effective flexural behavior remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the room-temperature, quasi-static flexural behavior of MLI blankets composed of aluminized BoPET radiation shields and polyester net spacers across structural configurations of 2, 6, 12, and 24 layers. A full factorial design was employed to evaluate the influence of the number of layers, stitch density, needle thread tension, and needle foot force. Statistical analyses demonstrated that the number of layers is the dominant factor governing flexural response. Among the sewing parameters, needle thread tension was associated with modifications in bending length, while needle foot force primarily affected local compaction.