Structural Efficiency and Multi-Functionality of Well-Behaved Nonlinear Composite Structures
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Aerospace Engineering
Abstract
Composite materials and advanced structures are predicted to be major drivers for the growth and competitiveness of UK's value-added manufacturing economy. Maintaining and further enhancing the current national competitive advantage has been identified as a government strategic priority. This fellowship will contribute toward this goal by considering engineering structural design and composite materials in a different light.
When conceiving structures, it is common practice to rely on well-established design principles and robust analysis tools. This may be for several reasons, but the lack of experience with different approaches is probably the most important. Exploring the opportunities that are available outside the 'designer comfort zone' is a risky, expensive and time-consuming gamble that engineering companies can rarely afford to take.
History shows several examples of structural designs that, despite being at the forefront of current material technologies, missed out on remarkable engineering opportunities. The Iron Bridge, across the river Severn near Coalbrookdale, is probably the most famous case in point in Britain. Completed in 1779, the bridge was the world's first to be made of cast iron and is renowned for being substantially overdesigned, having been conceived following rules for wood rather than metal constructions. Composite materials are a modern example. One of their most remarkable features is the versatility that allows engineers to design not only a structure but also its constituent materials. However, partly due to their excellent specific stiffness, there is often the tendency to use them to replicate the well-known behaviour of isotropic materials, thus missing the opportunity to exploit many of the benefits that they could potentially provide. Owing to the colour of carbon fibre composites, this modus operandi is known as the 'black metal' approach. In a similar way, structural design is normally limited to linear regimes. In other words, structures are often designed to be stiff and exhibit small displacements, i.e. to respond linearly to the applied loads. Under these circumstances design methods are well established and based on decades of experience. This is indeed the engineer's comfort zone. Designers usually avoid large displacements because they may cause unwanted shape changes and trigger the transition to nonlinear regimes, potentially leading to catastrophic and often sudden, uncontrolled failure. However, if we could learn to control such behaviour, it could actually be exploited for a benefit.
The aim of this proposal is to explore the possibilities given by nonlinear responses in structural design. The principal objectives are the development of a new generation of adaptive/multifunctional structures working in elastically nonlinear regimes and the creation of novel paradigms for structural efficiency. The ambition is to harness the possibilities presented by composite materials and to deliver new design principles by removing the barriers imposed by the current practice of restricting structures to behave linearly. Imagine aircraft wings or wind turbine blades tailored to be lighter and still meet the requirements imposed at different operating conditions, thanks to nonlinear stiffness characteristics; buildings whose structural response is compliant only if subjected to extreme earthquake loads, so as to prevent catastrophic failure; or a bridge whose stiffness increases in case of strong winds preventing detrimental aeroelastic instabilities. This is my vision. This is what the elastic properties of composite materials can offer, if we move away from the 'black metal' approach.
When conceiving structures, it is common practice to rely on well-established design principles and robust analysis tools. This may be for several reasons, but the lack of experience with different approaches is probably the most important. Exploring the opportunities that are available outside the 'designer comfort zone' is a risky, expensive and time-consuming gamble that engineering companies can rarely afford to take.
History shows several examples of structural designs that, despite being at the forefront of current material technologies, missed out on remarkable engineering opportunities. The Iron Bridge, across the river Severn near Coalbrookdale, is probably the most famous case in point in Britain. Completed in 1779, the bridge was the world's first to be made of cast iron and is renowned for being substantially overdesigned, having been conceived following rules for wood rather than metal constructions. Composite materials are a modern example. One of their most remarkable features is the versatility that allows engineers to design not only a structure but also its constituent materials. However, partly due to their excellent specific stiffness, there is often the tendency to use them to replicate the well-known behaviour of isotropic materials, thus missing the opportunity to exploit many of the benefits that they could potentially provide. Owing to the colour of carbon fibre composites, this modus operandi is known as the 'black metal' approach. In a similar way, structural design is normally limited to linear regimes. In other words, structures are often designed to be stiff and exhibit small displacements, i.e. to respond linearly to the applied loads. Under these circumstances design methods are well established and based on decades of experience. This is indeed the engineer's comfort zone. Designers usually avoid large displacements because they may cause unwanted shape changes and trigger the transition to nonlinear regimes, potentially leading to catastrophic and often sudden, uncontrolled failure. However, if we could learn to control such behaviour, it could actually be exploited for a benefit.
The aim of this proposal is to explore the possibilities given by nonlinear responses in structural design. The principal objectives are the development of a new generation of adaptive/multifunctional structures working in elastically nonlinear regimes and the creation of novel paradigms for structural efficiency. The ambition is to harness the possibilities presented by composite materials and to deliver new design principles by removing the barriers imposed by the current practice of restricting structures to behave linearly. Imagine aircraft wings or wind turbine blades tailored to be lighter and still meet the requirements imposed at different operating conditions, thanks to nonlinear stiffness characteristics; buildings whose structural response is compliant only if subjected to extreme earthquake loads, so as to prevent catastrophic failure; or a bridge whose stiffness increases in case of strong winds preventing detrimental aeroelastic instabilities. This is my vision. This is what the elastic properties of composite materials can offer, if we move away from the 'black metal' approach.
Planned Impact
The UK government has identified Advanced Materials as one of Eight Great Technologies to be promoted for the implementation of its industrial strategy. Furthermore, composite materials and advanced structures are considered key factors for the competitiveness, development and success of the UK economy. My proposal seeks to reach into new and unexplored areas of structural and composites design. The goal is to govern structurally nonlinear behaviours and to exploit them for a benefit.
I anticipate that exploiting well-behaved nonlinear composite structures will contribute to driving the growth of UK's value-added manufacturing economy. As a result of this fellowship novel cutting edge technology might be produced. An impact on the UK economy will be made if manufacturers will be able to exploit it to maintain or gain a competitive market positions. The most direct pathways to impact will be sought with ongoing involvement in the research of the parties that have indicated their interest with the Statements of Support. The current ACCIS (Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation & Science) and Engineering Faculty's industrial partners provide additional links. In due course, the support of the National Composites Centre can act as a catapult to project innovations towards higher Technology Readiness Levels and right into the manufacturing sector. Where possible, any potentially exploitable concept will be dealt with the help of the Bristol's Research and Enterprise Development (RED) office and protected with patenting and licensing mechanisms.
I will develop the design principles and the methodologies arising from this fellowship into a novel set of skills to be transferred to engineers and technical people. This new expertise might play a key role for British companies in creating the much sought competitive advantage. The University of Bristol and its Engineering Faculty are particularly well-positioned to convey novel skills, via the ACCIS Centre for Doctoral Training, the Industrial Doctorate Centre and their numerous industrial links. I intend to make the most of this position by organising annual workshops to share the results of the proposed research and to transfer the methods that will be developed.
A direct impact on the people's quality of life will derive from the development of novel standards for structural efficiency. Using less mass more effectively will indeed result in greener structures and vehicles, with an obvious advantage to the environment.
Delivering all of the aforementioned impacts would produce wealth and growth and consequently have a positive influence on wider society.
I anticipate that exploiting well-behaved nonlinear composite structures will contribute to driving the growth of UK's value-added manufacturing economy. As a result of this fellowship novel cutting edge technology might be produced. An impact on the UK economy will be made if manufacturers will be able to exploit it to maintain or gain a competitive market positions. The most direct pathways to impact will be sought with ongoing involvement in the research of the parties that have indicated their interest with the Statements of Support. The current ACCIS (Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation & Science) and Engineering Faculty's industrial partners provide additional links. In due course, the support of the National Composites Centre can act as a catapult to project innovations towards higher Technology Readiness Levels and right into the manufacturing sector. Where possible, any potentially exploitable concept will be dealt with the help of the Bristol's Research and Enterprise Development (RED) office and protected with patenting and licensing mechanisms.
I will develop the design principles and the methodologies arising from this fellowship into a novel set of skills to be transferred to engineers and technical people. This new expertise might play a key role for British companies in creating the much sought competitive advantage. The University of Bristol and its Engineering Faculty are particularly well-positioned to convey novel skills, via the ACCIS Centre for Doctoral Training, the Industrial Doctorate Centre and their numerous industrial links. I intend to make the most of this position by organising annual workshops to share the results of the proposed research and to transfer the methods that will be developed.
A direct impact on the people's quality of life will derive from the development of novel standards for structural efficiency. Using less mass more effectively will indeed result in greener structures and vehicles, with an obvious advantage to the environment.
Delivering all of the aforementioned impacts would produce wealth and growth and consequently have a positive influence on wider society.
Organisations
- University of Bristol (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Collaboration)
- Embraer S.A. (Collaboration)
- ETH Zurich (Collaboration)
- Airbus Group (Collaboration)
- University of Calabria (Collaboration)
- Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) (Collaboration)
- Texas A&M University-Central Texas (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
- University of Nottingham (Project Partner)
- Nanyang Technological University (Project Partner)
- Airbus (France) (Project Partner)
- Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp (Project Partner)
- Arup Group (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
Aza C
(2018)
Multistable Trusses of Nonlinear Morphing Elements
Champneys A
(2019)
Happy Catastrophe: Recent Progress in Analysis and Exploitation of Elastic Instability
in Frontiers in Applied Mathematics and Statistics
Cox B
(2019)
Nudging Axially Compressed Cylindrical Panels Toward Imperfection Insensitivity
in Journal of Applied Mechanics
Cox B
(2018)
Exploring the design space of nonlinear shallow arches with generalised path-following
in Finite Elements in Analysis and Design
Cox B
(2018)
Modal nudging in nonlinear elasticity: Tailoring the elastic post-buckling behaviour of engineering structures
in Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
Dixon MDX
(2019)
Bespoke extensional elasticity through helical lattice systems.
in Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Title | Multistability and snap-through behaviour of a bistable clamped strip from Adaptive compliant structures for flow regulation |
Description | The application of a transverse load to a bistable clamped strip in its first stable configuration causes snap-through into the inverted stable shape. The applied load increases until it reaches a critical value. At this point the beam snaps through a region of instability, where applied load decreases, reaching a second stable branch. Upon load removal the structures settles on the secondary stable state. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2017 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Multistability_and_snap-through_behaviour_of_a_bistable_clamp... |
Title | Multistability and snap-through behaviour of a bistable clamped strip from Adaptive compliant structures for flow regulation |
Description | The application of a transverse load to a bistable clamped strip in its first stable configuration causes snap-through into the inverted stable shape. The applied load increases until it reaches a critical value. At this point the beam snaps through a region of instability, where applied load decreases, reaching a second stable branch. Upon load removal the structures settles on the secondary stable state. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2017 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Multistability_and_snap-through_behaviour_of_a_bistable_clamp... |
Title | Multistability and snap-through behaviour of a monostable clamped strip from Adaptive compliant structures for flow regulation |
Description | A monostable buckled structure snaps from its first to its second inverted configuration when a transverse load is applied, but load removal causes snap back to the original unloaded equilibrium. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2017 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Multistability_and_snap-through_behaviour_of_a_monostable_cla... |
Title | Multistability and snap-through behaviour of a monostable clamped strip from Adaptive compliant structures for flow regulation |
Description | A monostable buckled structure snaps from its first to its second inverted configuration when a transverse load is applied, but load removal causes snap back to the original unloaded equilibrium. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2017 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Multistability_and_snap-through_behaviour_of_a_monostable_cla... |
Title | Passive actuation of a bistable adaptive air inlet. from Adaptive compliant structures for flow regulation |
Description | A 60 m/s air flow above the bistable inlet, cause a pressure field that actuates snap-through from the initially open state to the closed state. The bistable configuration holds its closed configuration even when the air flow ceases due to its structural characteristics. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2017 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Passive_actuation_of_a_bistable_adaptive_air_inlet_from_Adapt... |
Title | Passive actuation of a bistable adaptive air inlet. from Adaptive compliant structures for flow regulation |
Description | A 60 m/s air flow above the bistable inlet, cause a pressure field that actuates snap-through from the initially open state to the closed state. The bistable configuration holds its closed configuration even when the air flow ceases due to its structural characteristics. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2017 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Passive_actuation_of_a_bistable_adaptive_air_inlet_from_Adapt... |
Title | Passive actuation of a monostable adaptive air inlet. from Adaptive compliant structures for flow regulation |
Description | A 60 m/s air flow above the monostable inlet, cause a pressure field that actuates snap-through from the initially open state to the closed state. The closed configuration is not stable with respect to decreasing air speeds. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2017 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Passive_actuation_of_a_monostable_adaptive_air_inlet_from_Ada... |
Title | Passive actuation of a monostable adaptive air inlet. from Adaptive compliant structures for flow regulation |
Description | A 60 m/s air flow above the monostable inlet, cause a pressure field that actuates snap-through from the initially open state to the closed state. The closed configuration is not stable with respect to decreasing air speeds. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2017 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/Passive_actuation_of_a_monostable_adaptive_air_inlet_from_Ada... |
Title | Video of Experimental Path-Following from Beyond the fold: experimentally traversing limit points in nonlinear structures |
Description | This video demonstrates the experimental path-following method applied to a nonlinear shallow arch, including the traversal of limit points in its structural response. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2020 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Video_of_Experimental_Path-Following_from_Beyond_the_fold_experimen... |
Title | Video of Experimental Path-Following from Beyond the fold: experimentally traversing limit points in nonlinear structures |
Description | This video demonstrates the experimental path-following method applied to a nonlinear shallow arch, including the traversal of limit points in its structural response. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2020 |
URL | https://rs.figshare.com/articles/Video_of_Experimental_Path-Following_from_Beyond_the_fold_experimen... |
Description | This fellowship aim at exploring the possibility of using nonlinear structural mechanics, i.e. large deformations under applied loads, to create more efficient structures and/or to multifunctional structures. We have created innovative computational analysis tools, demonstrated that nonlinear structural deformations should not be seen as a failure mode, and delivered a series of structural concepts and design philosophies that meet the intend objectives. |
Exploitation Route | Through publications and engagement with industry we have made all of our findings, design methodologies and analysis tools publicly available. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Construction Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Energy |
Description | It is early to say whether impact will materialise but we have been working with several companies, including Simulia, Airbus and Embraer, to transfer our novel computational methodologies and design philosophies into the organisations. Some joint patents have been submitted. More recently, we have received some funding from the RAEng to explore routes to commercialisation of the software/computational methods/know-how that the team and I have developed under this grant. |
First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Specialist Advisory Group (SAG) membership |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | EPSRC Institutional Sponsorship 2016 |
Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Bristol |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2016 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship |
Amount | £451,202 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RF_201718_17178 |
Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 02/2023 |
Title | Data for "Beyond the Fold: Experimentally Traversing Limit Points in Nonlinear Structures" |
Description | Data underlying the publication "Beyond the Fold: Experimentally Traversing Limit Points in Nonlinear Structures" |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Data for "Multistable Morphing Mechanisms of Nonlinear Springs" |
Description | Underlying data for paper "Multistable Morphing Mechanisms of Nonlinear Springs" |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Data for "Spatial chaos as a governing factor for imperfection sensitivity in shell buckling" |
Description | Underlying data for paper "Spatial chaos as a governing factor for imperfection sensitivity in shell buckling" |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Data for Buckling-induced sound production in the aeroelastic tymbals of Yponomeuta |
Description | Supplementary data for the publication Buckling-induced sound production in the aeroelastic tymbals of Yponomeuta |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/m9otxdltertz1zmk8jgmwmcxg/ |
Title | Data for Publication: Experimental Path-Following of Equilibria Using Newton's Method |
Description | Models, output data and images for the two-part publication Experimental Path-Following of Equilibria Using Newton's Method. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/932lqv3akioz2jrwngdxzshfo/ |
Title | Data for Publication: Snaking and Laddering in Axially Compressed Cylinders |
Description | Underlying data and figures for the journal publication "Snaking and Laddering in Axially Compressed Cylinders". |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/26pu30dm5k0sv2qk15x92av7tl/ |
Title | Data for publication: Building blocks that govern spontaneous and programmed pattern formation in pre-compressed bilayers |
Description | Data and figures underlying the publication 'Building blocks that govern spontaneous and programmed pattern formation in pre-compressed bilayers' and supplementary material |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/3sac28tqz5djv2ju7730dx4ly1/ |
Title | Data for publication: Nudging axially compressed cylindrical panels towards imperfection insensitivity |
Description | This repository contains the data used to produce the figures in the publication: Nudging axially compressed cylindrical panels towards imperfection insensitivity |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Imperfection-Insensitive Continous Tow Sheared Cylinders |
Description | Data underlying Composite Structures journal publication Imperfection-Insensitive Continous Tow Sheared Cylinders |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/lhev549u8o1y20xjf71zn5n9l/ |
Title | Numerical Continuation Finite Element Program |
Description | The program extends the capabilities of current commercial finite element programs. The finite element method is the state-of-the-art established technique for modelling engineering structures, predicting fluid flows or modelling multi-physics problems. However, there is currently no commercial software package that incorporates bifurcation theory, which means that the efficient thin-walled structures of today, that are prone to instabilities, are cumbersome to analyse. We have developed this new capability over the last 18 months and this has dramatically changed the type of structures we can now analyse. |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | In our research group the code has allowed us to easily analyse optimised structures that rely on nonlinearities to derive structural benefits. We intend to more widely disseminate the software in the near future. |
Title | Optimisation of imperfection-insensitive CTS cylinders |
Description | Underlying data for SciTech conference paper: Optimisation of imperfection-insensitive CTS cylinders |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/11orm12zpqctz1zpl0h8ez5kk7/ |
Description | Collaboration with Airbus |
Organisation | Airbus Group |
Department | Airbus Operations |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | With Airbus we devised a concept for a morphing wing device which is currently subject to a patent application. |
Collaborator Contribution | With Airbus we devised a concept for a morphing wing device which is currently subject to a patent application. |
Impact | None yet. Two patent applications have been submitted. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Collaboration with Darren Hartl |
Organisation | Texas A&M University-Central Texas |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a partnership on developing noise reduction devices for civil aircraft. The aim of the project is to use shape-adaptive devices to design a noise reduction device that passively deploys and stows. We have contributed a nonlinear snap-morphing design that is currently the lightest of the solutions being considered. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners originated with the project idea, and conducted significant prior research on concepts and potential solutions. The partners are also conducting detailed fluid dynamics simulations of our designs. |
Impact | A conference paper and a journal publication are currently being drafted. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Collaboration with Embraer |
Organisation | Embraer S.A. |
Country | Brazil |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | With Embraer and as part of Bristol's CDT in Advanced Composites, we have set up a PhD studentship on modal nudging, i.e. a novel design philosophy attributable to this grant. |
Collaborator Contribution | With Embraer and as part of Bristol's CDT in Advanced Composites, we have set up a PhD studentship on modal nudging, i.e. a novel design philosophy attributable to this grant. |
Impact | none yet |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Collaboration with Just Herder |
Organisation | Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Mark Schenk and Just Herder have previously co-authored papers on zero stiffness structures, and in recent conversations identified a mutual interest in collaborating further to bring together Bristol's expertise in modelling nonlinear composite structures and TU Delft's experience in experimental characterisation of zero-stiffness structures. |
Collaborator Contribution | Professor Just Herder (JH) holds a chair in Interactive Mechanisms at TU Delft (The Netherlands), and has extensive expertise in compliant zero-stiffness structures. Such systems rely on geometrically non-linear behaviour of structures, and counterbalance positive and negative stiffness to form structures that can effortlessly deform over large displacements. A key challenge is to accurately characterise the nonlinear stiffness of the structural components experimentally. JH has agreed to support the project with a student who will be hosted in Bristol for a period of 4 months as part of their MSc research project. In due time, JH will visit Bristol to discuss progress, analyse preliminary outcomes and to explore means to support the proposal that this feasibility study will feed into. |
Impact | N/A. Too early. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Efficient modelling of delaminations |
Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Department | NASA Langley Research Centre |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We programmed an efficient predictive model for delaminations in composites based on our shared expertise in the field. This work was then written up as a journal publication by our team. |
Collaborator Contribution | NASA Langley funded the work under the Advanced Composites Project, hosted RMJ Groh at NASA Langley for 3 weeks and one of the researchers at NASA, Dr Alex Tessler, was directly involved in the numerical work and writing of the publication. |
Impact | A peer-reviewed publication which is currently under review. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Material Science meets Human-Computer Interface |
Organisation | University of Bristol |
Department | Department of Computer Science |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My partners in the Computer Science and myself wrote a review paper of the intersection between material science and human-computer interface technologies. I provided the insight into the material science aspect of the collaboration such as shape changing materials, auxetics, meta-materials, etc. |
Collaborator Contribution | My partners provided the insight and expertise into human-computer interface side of the collaboration and the funds to publish at the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Montreal, Canada. |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary and combines computer science and material science. Current outcomes are a review paper which received an honourable mention at the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Montreal, Canada. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Post-buckling of variable stiffness composites |
Organisation | University of Calabria |
Department | Department of Computer, Modeling, Electronics and Systems Engineering |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We hosted a PhD student from Calabria for two months and provided mathematical guidance on modelling of variable stiffness composites. Our predictive models were used to validate theirs. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partner research group funded a two-month placement of a PhD student and also paid for the ECCOMAS conference that they presented our joint work at. Furthermore, they developed their models to include variable stiffness composites. |
Impact | Two peer-reviewed journal publications and one conference presentation. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Stresses in Corrugated Panels |
Organisation | ETH Zurich |
Department | Department of Mathematics |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We provided the technical expertise and guidance in developing predictive models for the type of structure to be analysed. We also hosted a PhD student for three months in 2015. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners funded a three-month visit of one of their PhD students to Bristol University. |
Impact | The research has resulted in one peer-reviewed journal article, one conference presentation and another peer-reviewed article currently under review. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Aerospace Engineering Podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Aerospace Engineering Podcast features conversations with engineers and researchers in industry and academia to reveal their fascinating real-world stories of innovation, and provide a glimpse into the future of the industry by discussing cutting-edge research and promising new technologies. The podcast is produced on a monthly basis and intends to engage as many people as possible with the world of aerospace engineering. The podcast currently reaches an audience of around 1000 people per episode. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
URL | http://aerospaceengineeringblog.com/aerospace-engineering-podcast/ |
Description | Aerospace Engineering Website |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The aim of the website is to provide insights into the history, technology and research in aerospace engineering. The website currently has 1000 active subscribers and 10000 monthly readers. I publish widely on a number of technical topics and as a result and actively engaged with students all over the world that contact me via the website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 |
URL | http://aerospaceengineeringblog.com/ |