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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M57248/01
Title: STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF NOTCHED & UNNOTCHED WOVEN FABRIC COMPOSITES - DESIGN METHODS & DAMAGE
Principal Investigator: Guild, Professor FJ
Other Investigators:
Adams, Professor R
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Organisation: University of Bristol
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 18 October 1999 Ends: 17 October 2002 Value (£): 75,993
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The wider use in engineering applications of composites based on woven fabric reinforcement is restricted by a lack of understanding of issues relating to their Structural Integrity (SI). The complex science involved in improving the SI design methodology for these materials is a consequence of both their complex fibre architecture and the difficulty of quantifying the damage and predicting its evolution. Currently, there are no reliable quantitative models which describe these damage processes and hence, not surprisingly, there is no physically-based modelling available to a designer enabling a damage tolerant design approach to be taken. Of particular importance in design are infrequent so-called upset loading conditions (i.e. overloads) and/or the presence of a notch. In response to these issues, the deliverables of this project (involving detailed experimental studies and analytical and finite element modelling) are designed to lead to an extension of the design allowables for unnotched woven fabric composites, a notch design methodology and a technique for monitoring damage. In addition to providing these SI tools for British Industry as a whole )facilitated by the involvement of DERA and NPL as collaborators), the project will lead directly to an improvement in the Structural Integrity design methodology of Rolls-Royce plc.
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Organisation Website: http://www.bris.ac.uk