Advanced Composite Materials & Structures (ACMS) Group
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The new composite materials, made up of carbon fibres and toughened epoxy resins, are lighter/stiffer/stronger and increase fuel efficiency in aeroplanes, compared with the aluminium currently used. In the twenty first century carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) can and will contribute more than 50% of the structural mass of an aircraft. They are extensively used in the new Airbus A380 super jumbo, the first fully double-decked passenger jet (more than 550 seats) and the new Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliner’ aircraft. The 200-seater Boeing ‘superefficient’ passenger jet is expected to be 20% more fuel efficient than current commercial planes with up to 57% more cargo space than the Airbus A300-600. Composite materials offer a variety of advantages, however, affordability (reduced acquisition and direct operating costs, DOC, while maintaining or enhancing safety) is the key to survival in aerospace manufacturing, whether civil or military (A400M, EFA, F-35, UAV/X-45). Therefore current (and near future) research effort is devoted to analysis and computational simulation of the manufacturing and assembly process as well as the simulation of the performance of the structure, since they are intimately connected. |
| • Mechanical properties and characterisation (static and fatigue) • Failure analysis and fracture mechanics from micro to macro scale (including hygro-thermal effects) • Structural applications • Low velocity impact, joining and repair • Intelligent materials and structures • Non-destructive testing and evaluation • Modelling and finite element analysis |
| The ACMS group possesses extensive expertise and testing facilities and is working closely with the Dynamics and Manufacturing Research Group on damping characteristics of composite components and structures, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing that is dedicated to the manufacturing needs of the aerospace industry and the Polymers Centre that is very active in synthesis and characterisation of polymeric materials, nanodevices, vibration and damping. The complete spectrum of our funding encompasses UK industry (BAE Systems, Airbus, Dowty Propellers, QinetiQ), Research Councils, DSTL, Government Departments, EU and non-EU overseas funding agencies. |
| Staff Members Professor Costas Soutis Dr Alma Hodzic Dr Eli Ghassemieh Post-doctoral Researchers & Research Students Dr Joel Foreman Dr Jounghwan Lee Mr Akin Atas Mr Carlos Favela Mr Paul Hampson Miss An Van Ho Mrs Aidah Jumahat Mr Galal Mohamed Mr Shuang Men Mr Vahid Nekouie Ms Zurina Shamsudin Mr Timothy Swait Recent MPhil and PhD Awards Dr Greg Carnie Dr Jahanzeb Khan Dr Tim Shitta-Bey Dr Orlando Velecela Technical Staff Mr Jack Clarke Mr Michael Jackson Mr Mike Rennison Affiliate Members Professor Geof Tomlinson, Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Frank Jones, Department of Engineering Materials Professor Keith Ridgway, Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing Professor Kypros Pilakoutas, Department of Civil & Structural Engineering Professor Peter Waldron, Department of Civil & Structural Engineering Professor Tony Ryan, Department of Chemistry Dr Jem Rongong, Department of Mechanical Engineering Dr Simon Hayes, Department of Engineering Materials Dr Liam Sutton, The Polymer Centre Research Centres |
| Contact details: Prof C Soutis Professor of Aerospace Structures Director, Composite Systems Innovation Centre Faculty of Engineering (Aerospace) The University of Sheffield Mappin Street Sheffield S1 3JD Email: c.soutis@sheffield.ac.uk |