EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Aerospace Engineering
Abstract
The UK composites industry faces an imperative to prioritise sustainability. The urgent need to reduce impact on the environment and ensure the availability of resources for future generations is critical to securing a prosperous and resilient future. Composite materials are crucial for delivering a Net-Zero future but pose several unique technical challenges. Sustainable Composites Engineering defines a holistic means of achieving environmental neutrality for composite products through production, service, and reuse. It incorporates the pursuit of more sustainable composite materials, with a mission of creating inherently sustainable composite solutions, able to perform in diverse environments, and made using new scientific advances, and new energy efficient, waste-free manufacturing procedures. Our proposed CDT in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering will address the challenges by developing a workforce equipped with the skills to become leaders in the future sustainable economy and support UK industry competitiveness.
Our CDT is jointly created by the Bristol Composites Institute, the University of Nottingham and the National Composites Centre (NCC). In addition to the EPSRC funding our CDT is also supported by industry and we have received 27 letters of support from companies in the UK Composites sector: Aerospace (Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Dowty, Leonardo, GKN), Defence (QinetiQ, AWE, BAE Systems), Automotive (Gordan Murray, JLR), Wind Energy (Vestas, EDF-Renewables), Marine (Tods), Rail (Network Rail), Oil and Gas (Magma Global), Hydrogen (Luxfer) alongside material suppliers (Hexcel, Solvay, iCOMAT, SHD), and specialist design and manufacturing companies (Pentaxia, Actuation Lab, LMAT, Molydyn), as well as RTOs (NPL, NCC). The total industrial commitment to our CDT is >£10M, with>£4M from NCC. From this it is clear that our CDT fits the Focus Area of Meeting a User Need.
The CDT will provide a science-based framework for innovative, curiosity driven research and skills development to facilitate composites as the underpinning technology for a sustainable future. Critically, the CDT will offer an agile doctoral educational environment focused on advanced competencies and skills, tailored to industrial and commercial needs, providing academic excellence and encourage innovation. The ambitious goal of spanning Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 1-4) will be achieved by having a mix of university-based PhDs and industrially-based EngDs . Fundamental industrial sponsored research will be carried out by PhD students based at the Universities. The EngD students will spend 75% of their time in industry conducting a research project that is defined industry.
Students will complete their doctoral studies in four years, the doctoral research will run concurrently with the taught component, so students are immersed in the research environment from the outset. The bespoke training programme demands the critical mass of a cohort. A specific role on our Management Board focuses on maximising cohort benefits to students. The cohort continuity across years will be ensured by a peer-to-peer mentoring programme, with all new students assigned a student mentor to support their studies, thereby creating an inclusive environment to provide students with a sense of place and ownership. Methods for developing and maintaining a cohort across multiple sites will be supported by our previous experience with the IDCs strategy and by:
-A first year based in Bristol with students co-located to encourage interaction.
-In-person workshops in year 2 credit bearing units and professional activities.
-Peer-to-peer individual mentoring, as well as in DBT and credit-bearing workshops.
-Annual welcome cohort integration event.
-Annual conference and student-led networking.
-Internal themed research seminars and group meetings
-Student-led training and outreach activities.
Our CDT is jointly created by the Bristol Composites Institute, the University of Nottingham and the National Composites Centre (NCC). In addition to the EPSRC funding our CDT is also supported by industry and we have received 27 letters of support from companies in the UK Composites sector: Aerospace (Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Dowty, Leonardo, GKN), Defence (QinetiQ, AWE, BAE Systems), Automotive (Gordan Murray, JLR), Wind Energy (Vestas, EDF-Renewables), Marine (Tods), Rail (Network Rail), Oil and Gas (Magma Global), Hydrogen (Luxfer) alongside material suppliers (Hexcel, Solvay, iCOMAT, SHD), and specialist design and manufacturing companies (Pentaxia, Actuation Lab, LMAT, Molydyn), as well as RTOs (NPL, NCC). The total industrial commitment to our CDT is >£10M, with>£4M from NCC. From this it is clear that our CDT fits the Focus Area of Meeting a User Need.
The CDT will provide a science-based framework for innovative, curiosity driven research and skills development to facilitate composites as the underpinning technology for a sustainable future. Critically, the CDT will offer an agile doctoral educational environment focused on advanced competencies and skills, tailored to industrial and commercial needs, providing academic excellence and encourage innovation. The ambitious goal of spanning Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 1-4) will be achieved by having a mix of university-based PhDs and industrially-based EngDs . Fundamental industrial sponsored research will be carried out by PhD students based at the Universities. The EngD students will spend 75% of their time in industry conducting a research project that is defined industry.
Students will complete their doctoral studies in four years, the doctoral research will run concurrently with the taught component, so students are immersed in the research environment from the outset. The bespoke training programme demands the critical mass of a cohort. A specific role on our Management Board focuses on maximising cohort benefits to students. The cohort continuity across years will be ensured by a peer-to-peer mentoring programme, with all new students assigned a student mentor to support their studies, thereby creating an inclusive environment to provide students with a sense of place and ownership. Methods for developing and maintaining a cohort across multiple sites will be supported by our previous experience with the IDCs strategy and by:
-A first year based in Bristol with students co-located to encourage interaction.
-In-person workshops in year 2 credit bearing units and professional activities.
-Peer-to-peer individual mentoring, as well as in DBT and credit-bearing workshops.
-Annual welcome cohort integration event.
-Annual conference and student-led networking.
-Internal themed research seminars and group meetings
-Student-led training and outreach activities.
