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Aeroplane wings that change shape in mid-air may sound like the
stuff of science fiction, but radical new aircraft designs like this
could become a reality thanks to a five-year strategic partnership
formally launched today between the University of Bristol, the
University of Oxford and Smiths Aerospace. The Smiths Aerospace
University Technology Strategic Partnership (UTSP) in smart composites
and metallics, or SMARTCOMP, will deliver new research in composites
technology and lay the foundations for more far-reaching innovation
over the longer-term.
Originally established in 2005 with an initial investment of GBP
1.25 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
Council (EPSRC) and Smiths, SMARTCOMP will have two broad themes of
research. The first will focus on approaches, such as using 3-D
composites to make aircraft parts lighter, more fuel efficient and
reduce manufacturing costs. This research will be led by Bristol with
input from Oxford. The second will centre on self-actuating composites
and will be a joint activity by Bristol and Oxford, looking to create
composite components that can actively change their geometry or shape
in response to force applied internally or externally.
"Investment in research and technology for future aerospace
programmes is vital to our industry," said Dr. John Ferrie, President
of Smiths Aerospace. "At Smiths we have made R&D a priority by
investing more than 8 percent of our annual sales. Strategic
partnerships on projects like SMARTCOMP fulfill our objective to
cultivate new, advanced technologies, while giving us the added
benefit of developing the future leaders in our industry," he added.
The exciting collaboration will be led by University UTSP
Director, Professor Michael Wisnom, together with eight other
academics from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Bristol; and
Professor Patrick Grant and Dr Stephen Duncan from Oxford. Currently
the UTSP has three postdoctoral Research Associates (PDRA) and five
PhD students carrying out Smiths-related research in Bristol, and a
further PDRA at Oxford.
Professor Patrick Grant, Cookson Professor of Materials at the
University of Oxford said, "The joint Smiths-Bristol-Oxford team has
already identified a number of specific applications for smart
composites, and the strategic collaboration provides a long-term
platform essential for continuing such an ambitious project."
Professor Michael Wisnom, Director of Smiths UTSP, University of
Bristol added, "We are excited by the opportunity to apply our
composites expertise to advancing the design and manufacture of
Smiths' current aerospace products, and to work together with Oxford
University on future cutting-edge applications of smart composites
technologies."
Smiths Aerospace's goal is to build a centre of expertise at
Bristol that will enhance its research capacity, generate intellectual
property, and be a link to the business' education, training and
recruitment efforts. A dedicated centre for work on SMARTCOMP has been
established at the University of Bristol's new Advanced Composites
Centre for Innovation and Science (ACCIS), opened today, where staff,
students and visitors from Oxford and Smiths will conduct their
research. There will also be regular joint seminars between the
parties, increasing the opportunity for knowledge exchange. New ideas
generated by the cutting-edge partnership will be developed into
further proposals for funding from UK and EU sources.
Notes for editors:
University of Bristol
The Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science (ACCIS)
at the University of Bristol brings together an interdisciplinary team
of more than 50 researchers working on the science, engineering and
application of fibre reinforced composite materials and structures.
Research spans four broad themes: Multifunctional Composites & Novel
Microstructures; Design, Analysis & Failure; Intelligent Structures
and Composites Processing and Characterisation. The Centre has very
strong industrial links, especially in the aerospace sector.
www.bristol.ac.uk
www.bristol.ac.uk/composites
University of Oxford
The Department of Materials at Oxford University has two main
objectives: (i) to produce world class graduate materials scientists
and engineers, and (ii) to conduct world-class research into the
manufacture, structure, properties and applications of materials, for
the benefit of the UK and world community. The Department was awarded
the highest "five star" grading for research in the Government's most
recent research assessment exercise, and consistently tops the overall
performance league tables for UK Materials Departments. The Department
is part of an integrated Division of Mathematical and Physical
Sciences at Oxford, and provides an ideal environment for
interdisciplinary teaching and research. Fundamental developments in
the physics and chemistry of materials take place directly alongside
applications in manufacturing processes and engineering design.
www.oxford.ac.uk
www.materials.ox.ac.uk
Smiths Aerospace
Smiths Aerospace, a part of Smiths Group, is a leading
transatlantic aerospace systems and equipment company, with more than
11,500 employees and $2.4 billion revenues globally. The company
supplies digital, electrical power and mechanical system products and
engine components for commercial and military aircraft and associated
customer services. www.smiths-aerospace.com
For further PR information contact:
University of Bristol
Sadia Haq, Research & Enterprise Development, University of
Bristol, Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TH tel: 0117 928
8676, e-mail: sadia.haq@bristol.ac.uk, web: www.bristol.ac.uk/research
University of Oxford
Pete Wilton, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1
2JD tel: 01865 283877, e-mail: Pete.Wilton@admin.ox.ac.uk
Smiths Aerospace
Heather Cox, Director / VP Marketing Communications, 765 Finchley
Road, London NW11 8DS tel: 44 20 8457 8336, mob: 44 771 350 5560,
e-mail: heather.cox@smiths-group.com
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