University of Durham - Equipment Account
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Biosciences
Abstract
Researchers from many areas of science and engineering need to investigate the internal structure of solid materials and artefacts; they might want to determine the proportions of different materials, the locations of voids, the presence of water, see structural fabrics or many other possibilities. Accurate non-destructive investigation of this nature has proved almost impossible until recently. However, with the advent of new X-ray scanning machines, both available at a reasonable cost and relatively easy to use, a new world of investigation is opening up. These machines are very similar to computed tomography (CT) scanners one finds in hospitals. However these machines are constructed to be particularly suitable for scanning of materials such as soils, concrete, rock and some metals.
This proposal seeks funding to set up a new XRCT scanning facility for researchers in civil engineering, bioengineering, manufacturing, geology, archaeology and biological sciences. based at Durham University. The new facility will primarily serve groups working at Durham, Newcastle and Sheffield Universities. However it will be possible for other academics and industry to use the facility as well.
This proposal seeks funding to set up a new XRCT scanning facility for researchers in civil engineering, bioengineering, manufacturing, geology, archaeology and biological sciences. based at Durham University. The new facility will primarily serve groups working at Durham, Newcastle and Sheffield Universities. However it will be possible for other academics and industry to use the facility as well.
Planned Impact
This proposal is for a piece of equipment that will be used by scientists and engineers from a wide range of disciplines. It will therefore have a part to play in the impact of research activities in a similarly wide range of areas. Some examples of impact are as follows:
-Being able to see and measure the 3D microstructures of manufactured materials will help to avoid unexpected material failures which could have economic and societal impact;
-Understanding the way that voids are distributed in a soil sample allows us to determine how strength may change with climate when that soil is part of a natural or man-made slope this could help us to predict landslides induced by rainfall;
-Scanning of rocks can aid understanding of how volcanic activity can develop.
The presence of the equipment will have impact in at least these areas: civil engineering, geology, biomechanics, archaeology and manufacturing.
-Being able to see and measure the 3D microstructures of manufactured materials will help to avoid unexpected material failures which could have economic and societal impact;
-Understanding the way that voids are distributed in a soil sample allows us to determine how strength may change with climate when that soil is part of a natural or man-made slope this could help us to predict landslides induced by rainfall;
-Scanning of rocks can aid understanding of how volcanic activity can develop.
The presence of the equipment will have impact in at least these areas: civil engineering, geology, biomechanics, archaeology and manufacturing.
Publications
Smith J
(2016)
Sample size choices for XRCT scanning of highly unsaturated soil mixtures
in E3S Web of Conferences
Augarde C
(2016)
Challenges in treating earthen construction materials as unsaturated soils
in E3S Web of Conferences
Hutchings L
(2015)
Normal-phase (temperature gradient) interaction chromatography - A powerful tool for the characterisation of high molecular weight chain-end functionalised polymers
in European Polymer Journal
Kareem R
(2017)
Multi-technique approach to the petrophysical characterization of Berea sandstone core plugs (Cleveland Quarries, USA)
in Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
Pagliarulo A
(2017)
End-Functionalized Chains via Anionic Polymerization: Can the Problems with Using Diphenylethylene Derivatives be Solved by using Bisphenol F?
in Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics
Hughes D
(2019)
Effect of Relative Density on Compressive Load Response of Crumpled Aluminium Foil Mesh
in Materials
Readle D
(2016)
Fibre reinforcement in earthen construction materials
in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Construction Materials
Smith J.C.
(2014)
The use of XRCT to investigate highly unsaturated soil mixtures
in Unsaturated Soils: Research and Applications - Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Unsaturated Soils, UNSAT 2014
Brodie Mark William
(2016)
Diagenesis & reservoir quality of the middle Bakken Formation
Smith J
(2014)
Geomechanics from Micro to Macro
Description | This is an equipment grant to support the XRCT facility in Durham |
Exploitation Route | The grant supports the XRCT facility at Durham with many users across Science and Technology |
Sectors | Construction Energy Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
URL | https://www.dur.ac.uk/xrdur/facilities/xrct/ |
Description | The equipment is used for a wide variety of investigations of solids in science and engineering, mainly in earth sciences and geotechnical engineering. The machine is currently being used in GCRF funded projects. The machine is now nearing the end of its life Outcomes are associated with EP/K036084/1 |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Construction,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Fines migration in sandstones |
Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NERC Oil & Gas CDT PhD studentship for Catriona Sellick PI is Prof. H.C. Greenwell |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2016 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | Nanogeochemistry of Enhanced Oil Recovery - Phase II |
Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | PI is Prof. H.C. Greenwell |
Organisation | BP (British Petroleum) |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2016 |
End | 12/2019 |
Description | Royal Microscopy Society Summer Studentship |
Amount | £2,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Microscopy Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2015 |
End | 09/2015 |
Description | Royal Microscopy Society Summer Studentship |
Amount | £2,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Microscopy Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2016 |
End | 09/2016 |
Description | Collaboration with University of Stellenbosch |
Organisation | University of Stellenbosch |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Access to equipment / training of staff and visiting students in use of equipment funded through this award. |
Collaborator Contribution | Training of staff |
Impact | None |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | 251st American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation entitled "New Synthetic Strategy for the synthesis of amphiphillic PDMS-PEO block copolymer and retention behavious of heterobifunctional PEO in NP-TGIC". Authors, Gabriele Benzi and Lian R Hutchings. Presenter Gabriele Benzi - PhD student |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | International Symposium on Ionic Polymerisation (IP'15), Bordeaux, France, July 5th - 10th 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation entitled "New Synthetic Strategy for Synthesis of Amphiphilic PDMS-PEO Block Copolymer" Authors, Gabriele Benzi, Lian R Hutchings. presenter Gabriele Benzi - PhD student |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Seventh International Symposium on the Separation and Characterization of Natural and Synthetic Macromolecules, Amsterdam, Jan 28-30 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation entitled "Characterisation of High Molecular Weight End-Functionalised Polymers by Interaction Chromatography" Authors Jenny Keth, Serena Agostini, Lian R Hutchings. Presenter, Jenny Keth. Jenny was a visiting erasmus student who whorked in this group for 4 months. Her host university is University of Mainz, Germany. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |