Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S60228/01
Title:	NETWORK: Network for the Development of Industrial Computational Tools for the Design of Composite Components & Structures (CODECO)
Principal Investigator:	Li, Professor S
Other Investigators:	Wisnom, Professor M Hodgkinson, Dr JM Smith, Professor PA Rudd, Professor CD Fleck, Professor N Reid, Professor SR Banks, Emeritus Research Professor WM
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Ameron International BP Capcis Ltd DSTL Ford Motor Co Materials Engineering Research Laborator National Physical Laboratory Ricardo Group
Department:	Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Eng
Organisation:	University of Manchester, The
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 February 2004	Ends:	31 January 2007	Value (£):	65,977
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Synthesis & Growth Materials testing & eng.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Aerospace, Defence and Marine Energy Information Technologies Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
This proposal is to establish a network to bring together companies, research organisations, the trade associations and universities who are interested in, and can contribute to, the production, commercialisation and use of validated computational design tools for modelling of composite materials and structures. The proposed network will be focused on design and on the high level of confidence in design which can be achieved by innovation and validated modelling of the behaviour and performance of composite materials. The lack of reliable design techniques is often identified as one of the main barriers to the wider use of composite materials in industry.The main activities of the Network will include: Identify gaps in the current modelling capability and encourage innovative thinking Develop new analytical models through joint universities/research organisations/industry research partnerships Generate R&D initiatives with co-ordinated work being performed by the public and private sectors. Education and training will be built as an integral part of such projects. Provide the scale and credibility to ensure the acceptance and adoption of the models by a sufficient critical mass of designers in industry Widen the updating process for modelling tools: for example by organising round robins increase the cohesion of a community which is currently scattered and fragmented across a number of industrial sectors (marine, construction, energy, telecommunications, aerospace, automotive) Provide a forum for debate and broad exchange of ideas outside of the usual constraints resulting from direct commercial pressures Focus on industrial validation and commercialisation of results Promote Technology Transfer from research codes to design tools and establish viable, standard routes to exploitation.These elements will also contribute to the success of a number of other initiatives and in particular to the National Integrated Research Programme for Composite Design Tools.The proposed Network does not duplicate existing initiatives and activities but is very much complementary to them. This complementarily will be built upon during the life of the Network.The Network is structured so as to act as a bridge to enable the relatively short project timescales and business horizons in the UK, to be extended in order to achieve industrial applications and proper documentation of the codes resulting from, in particular, academic EPSRC supported research.Based on their past experience and track record the Network proposers are confident that over the period covered by the grant for the Network, a number of funding sources will be put in place to enable the initiative to become established and self-sustaining.The formation of the Network will act as a catalyst for the preparation of a proposal for a European Network of Excellence under Framework 6. Although wider in its overall remit one of the core activities will focus on computational tools for the design of components and structures.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher
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Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.man.ac.uk