| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/C532392/1 |
| Title: |
Composites with Hierarchical Microstructures ---From Homogeneous to Inhomogeneous |
| Principal Investigator: |
Peng, Professor H |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Aerospace Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Bristol |
| Scheme: |
First Grant Scheme Pre-FEC |
| Starts: |
01 August 2005 |
Ends: |
31 January 2008 |
Value (£): |
125,992
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Electronics |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Since the advent of SiC fibres in the 1970s, it has been a worldwide common practice to pursue a homogeneous distribution of the reinforcements in discontinuously reinforced composites, discontinuous metal matrix composites (DMMCs) in particular. This conventional approach to DMMCs development has enabled some advantages of DMMCs over unreinforced monolithic materials to be realised to a limited extent by altering volume fraction, size and aspect ratio of the reinforcing phases. However, our recent fundamental study has shown that a homogeneously discrete distribution of the reinforcement inevitably results in a relatively low performance suggesting a new approach is needed.The proposed new approach is using hierarchical microstructures, i.e., to design and manufacture composite materials with controlled inhomogeneous microstructures by deliberately tailoring the reinforcement spatial distributions. Our preliminary experimental results have shown that a tailored inhomogeneous microstructure with varying degree of continuity of the reinforcement is more effective for overall property improvement.The aim is to tailor the combination of composite properties for particular engineering applications. This involves theoretical modelling and experimental explorations. The modelling work will systematically investigate the effect of spatial distribution of the reinforcing phase on the composite properties. Reliable processing techniques will be explored to manufacture composites with these novel microstructures and their properties will be assessed.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bris.ac.uk |