| Premlinary Design |
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• Conceptual design studies.
• Design feasibility studies.
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| Simulation |
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• Automated layup prediction - Ply orientation automatically calculated in complex structures allowing automated design of components.
• Tow visualisation modelling – Visualisation of fabrics “as manufactured” into composites using computerized tomography; translation of geometries into finite element analysis models to provide direct information on manufacturing-related performance changes.
• Micromechanics modelling – Investigation of effects including tow geometry, stitching and Z-pinning in composites, providing increased performance prediction accuracy.
• Thermo-mechanical and viscoelastic models of the behaviour of cured and uncured resins in composites, modelling of high-temperature strain behaviour, forming behaviour, cure distortion prediction and failure theories.
• Advanced programming (MathCAD, PCL, Python, Fortran).
• User subroutine development (Abaqus, MSC.Marc).
• Automation of design tools.
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| Component Design |
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• Design of composite structures including highly loaded structures.
• Bonded joint design including high strain rate response and metal to composite joints.
• Fastened joint design including high strain rate response.
• Design of composite energy absorbers.
• Optimisation of composite structures.
• Design of post-buckled structures and damage tolerant structures.
• Reverse engineered components.
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| Manufacturing Design and Analysis |
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• Design for manufacture.
• Ply stack optimisation.
• Tooling design (autoclave, RTM, pultrusion, etc), including heating strategy optimisation (electrical, oil, oven, autoclave, etc).
• Flow visualisation of RTM, infusion and injection pultrusion processes.
• Thermo-mechanical analysis of composite structures.
• Liquid moulding design and optimisation.
• Tooling design.
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| Analysis for In-service Operation |
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• Impact damage simulation including bird-strike and crash analysis.
• Vibration analysis.
• Assessment of residual strength of composites with defects and damage.
• Failure prediction for composites, fastened composites and adhesives.
• New-generation fire simulation capability, including prediction of structure survival times during fire.
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| Testing and Validation |
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• Material characterisation for mechanical, thermal and viscoelastic properties.
• Fatigue, impact, creep, multi-axial and other structural and performance testing of large and small components.
• Manufacture of large, full scale prototypes.
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