Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | EP/G012938/1 | |
| Title | Fibre waviness defects in composite structures | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy) 50%; Not Energy Related 50%; |
|
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 50%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 50%; |
|
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Dr M Sutcliffe No email address given Engineering University of Cambridge |
|
| Award Type | Standard | |
| Funding Source | EPSRC | |
| Start Date | 01 May 2009 | |
| End Date | 31 July 2012 | |
| Duration | 39 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £259,704 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Environment; Manufacturing | |
| Region | East of England | |
| Programme | NC : Engineering | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Dr M Sutcliffe , Engineering, University of Cambridge (99.999%) |
| Other Investigator | Professor N Fleck , Engineering, University of Cambridge (0.001%) |
|
| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Vestas Technology UK Ltd (0.000%) Project Contact , Dowty Propellers Ltd (0.000%) Project Contact , Simulayt Ltd (0.000%) |
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| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | Linked to grant EP/G015848/1 | |
| Abstract | Composites are now widely used in a wide range of applications. In the wind turbine and aerospace sectors recent innovations, including larger and more sophisticated structures, have driven the need for better understanding of failure of composite structures. Use of lower-cost process routes requires a need for better understanding of the inevitable defects in such composite structures.Failure ofwell-controlled flat composite panels is now generally well understood. However real manufacturedcomponents contain a range of stress concentrators, some associated with relatively controlled features such as joints, ply drops, sandwich panel closures and holes, some more uncertain associated with defects including fibre waviness, resin-rich areas and gaps at sandwich core breaks. The aim of theproject is to understand and model how such defects affect the strength of the structure.The project has three main strands: (i) characterising realistic defects in industrial components and in controlled laboratory specimens, (ii) identifying mechanisms of compressive failure under fatigue loading and developing predictive models for failure at waviness defects, validated with experiments, (iii)modelling of defect formation during processing. Case studies suggested by industrial partners Dowty and Vestas of a propeller and a wind turbine blade will be used. The models will be incorporated into software tools, in collaboration with Simulayt Ltd, for use in design | |
| Publications | (none) |
|
| Final Report | (none) |
|
| Added to Database | 27/10/08 | |
