16th Apr 2007 08:30
Aeroplane wings that change shape in mid-air may sound like thestuff of science fiction, but radical new aircraft designs like thiscould become a reality thanks to a five-year strategic partnershipformally launched today between the University of Bristol, theUniversity of Oxford and Smiths Aerospace. The Smiths AerospaceUniversity Technology Strategic Partnership (UTSP) in smart compositesand metallics, or SMARTCOMP, will deliver new research in compositestechnology and lay the foundations for more far-reaching innovationover the longer-term. £ Originally established in 2005 with an initial investment of GBP1.25 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences ResearchCouncil (EPSRC) and Smiths, SMARTCOMP will have two broad themes ofresearch. The first will focus on approaches, such as using 3-Dcomposites to make aircraft parts lighter, more fuel efficient andreduce manufacturing costs. This research will be led by Bristol withinput from Oxford. The second will centre on self-actuating compositesand will be a joint activity by Bristol and Oxford, looking to createcomposite components that can actively change their geometry or shapein response to force applied internally or externally. £ "Investment in research and technology for future aerospaceprogrammes is vital to our industry," said Dr. John Ferrie, Presidentof Smiths Aerospace. "At Smiths we have made R&D a priority byinvesting more than 8 percent of our annual sales. Strategicpartnerships on projects like SMARTCOMP fulfill our objective tocultivate new, advanced technologies, while giving us the addedbenefit of developing the future leaders in our industry," he added. £ The exciting collaboration will be led by University UTSPDirector, Professor Michael Wisnom, together with eight otheracademics from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Bristol; andProfessor Patrick Grant and Dr Stephen Duncan from Oxford. Currentlythe UTSP has three postdoctoral Research Associates (PDRA) and fivePhD students carrying out Smiths-related research in Bristol, and afurther PDRA at Oxford. £ Professor Patrick Grant, Cookson Professor of Materials at theUniversity of Oxford said, "The joint Smiths-Bristol-Oxford team hasalready identified a number of specific applications for smartcomposites, and the strategic collaboration provides a long-termplatform essential for continuing such an ambitious project." £ Professor Michael Wisnom, Director of Smiths UTSP, University ofBristol added, "We are excited by the opportunity to apply ourcomposites expertise to advancing the design and manufacture ofSmiths' current aerospace products, and to work together with OxfordUniversity on future cutting-edge applications of smart compositestechnologies." £ Smiths Aerospace's goal is to build a centre of expertise atBristol that will enhance its research capacity, generate intellectualproperty, and be a link to the business' education, training andrecruitment efforts. A dedicated centre for work on SMARTCOMP has beenestablished at the University of Bristol's new Advanced CompositesCentre for Innovation and Science (ACCIS), opened today, where staff,students and visitors from Oxford and Smiths will conduct theirresearch. There will also be regular joint seminars between theparties, increasing the opportunity for knowledge exchange. New ideasgenerated by the cutting-edge partnership will be developed intofurther 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 teamof more than 50 researchers working on the science, engineering andapplication of fibre reinforced composite materials and structures.Research spans four broad themes: Multifunctional Composites & NovelMicrostructures; Design, Analysis & Failure; Intelligent Structuresand Composites Processing and Characterisation. The Centre has verystrong 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 mainobjectives: (i) to produce world class graduate materials scientistsand engineers, and (ii) to conduct world-class research into themanufacture, structure, properties and applications of materials, forthe benefit of the UK and world community. The Department was awardedthe highest "five star" grading for research in the Government's mostrecent research assessment exercise, and consistently tops the overallperformance league tables for UK Materials Departments. The Departmentis part of an integrated Division of Mathematical and PhysicalSciences at Oxford, and provides an ideal environment forinterdisciplinary teaching and research. Fundamental developments inthe physics and chemistry of materials take place directly alongsideapplications 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 leadingtransatlantic aerospace systems and equipment company, with more than11,500 employees and $2.4 billion revenues globally. The companysupplies digital, electrical power and mechanical system products andengine components for commercial and military aircraft and associatedcustomer services. www.smiths-aerospace.com £ For further PR information contact: £ University of Bristol £ Sadia Haq, Research & Enterprise Development, University ofBristol, Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TH tel: 0117 9288676, e-mail: [email protected], web: www.bristol.ac.uk/research £ University of Oxford £ Pete Wilton, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford OX12JD tel: 01865 283877, e-mail: [email protected] £ Smiths Aerospace £ Heather Cox, Director / VP Marketing Communications, 765 FinchleyRoad, London NW11 8DS tel: 44 20 8457 8336, mob: 44 771 350 5560,e-mail: [email protected] Copyright Business Wire 2007Related Shares:
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