Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/M55527/01
Title:	DURABILITY DESIGN METHODOLOGY FOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS CAST FROM MAGNESIUM ALLOYS
Principal Investigator:	Bowen, Professor P
Other Investigators:	Knott, Professor J Davenport, Professor AJ
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Magnesium Elektron Ltd (UK) Rolls-Royce Plc Rover Ltd
Department:	Metallurgy and Materials
Organisation:	University of Birmingham
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 October 1999	Ends:	30 September 2002	Value (£):	203,735
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Processing Materials testing & eng.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Aerospace, Defence and Marine Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The overriding objective is to demonstrate that Structural Integrity methodologies can be used effectively to inform and improve decision-making in major, wealth-creating, UK OEMs regarding the introduction of new materials in structural components. This involves the incorporation of appropriate lifting procedures in design philosophy . Its importance is endorsed by our main partners: Rover (automotive) and Rolls Royce (aerospace); and by an experienced die-caster Dynacast International. We propose to assess the through-life structural integrity of cast magnesium alloys, which are currently of major interest with respect to weight-saving in transport systems. This involves both initiation and propagation stages. There are major unknowns with respect to propagation and we propose to address these, but the crucial feature is to identify and characterise the (casting and corrosion-pit) defects which serve as fatigue-crack initiators and to formulate an initiation methodology. The scope of the research covers automotive and aero-engine structures, but is extendable to both rail rolling-stock and airframes. The proposal brings together expertise from two Schools within the University of Birmingham, a leading materials producer, and international pressure die-caster, and two leading manufacturers of motor vehicles and aeroengines. Specific input will also be forthcoming from individual academics at other universities.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.bham.ac.uk