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| During the last 20 years Professor Soutis has conducted research in the areas of mechanics, fracture, damage resistance, and damage tolerance of composite materials and their structures. The work has involved careful experiments and development of analytical/numerical tools with a particular objective of developing efficient analytical methodologies, which are useful in performing parametric studies early in the design process. He is the author or co-author of over 200 journal and conference papers and made over 100 technical presentations at international conferences, seminars and symposia. Specific research areas addressed include: the compressive response of composite laminates with open, filled and pin-loaded holes under uniaxial and bi-axial static and fatigue loading; impact and post-impact compressive strength; environmental effects on fibre microbuckling; compressive behaviour of stiffened composite panels; repair of composite laminates and structures; modelling of matrix cracking and delamination in orthotropic laminates under uniaxial and bi-axial tension; crush energy absorption; quantitative non-destructive evaluation of composites using smart piezoelectric devices. The Aerospace Industry, Research Agencies and others currently use successfully some of the fracture models developed by Soutis and co-workers. |
Fracture, damage tolerance and durability:
Experimental and analytical work to identify and understand the basic mechanisms, which cause damage and eventual failure in composite structures loaded in compression. Ultimate goal of the work is to develop models to predict the failure of composite structures (due to fibre microbuckling) exposed to different environmental conditions under static and fatigue loading. Issues include basic fracture, failure in the presence of open cut-outs and impact damage (damage tolerance) and cyclic loading (fatigue life). Experimental work ranges from small specimens to more complex structures such as stiffened panels used in the manufacture of aircraft wings. Models and analysis techniques are developed based on the factors identified through the experimentation. |
Matrix cracking and delamination:
Analytical and numerical work to predict the initiation, growth and interaction of such failure mechanisms under general in-plane loading. Simple models are developed to predict the effect of damage on the stiffness properties and strength of the composite laminate, taking into account hygrothermal effects (moisture and temperature). Experimental work is conducted to consider the initiation and growth of delamination as well as its interaction with other damage modes and its role in the final failure of composite configurations. Strain energy release rate approaches continue to be explored and utilised in predicting the various aspects of delamination. |
Impact, crush energy absorption:
Experimental and analytical work on the overall issue of impact including aspects of damage resistance, damage tolerance and energy absorption. Theoretical models are developed to predict the effect any impact will have on the compressive performance (CAI) of a composite structure or describe the response of the composite during the crushing process. Experimental work on flat specimens or channel sections (stiffeners) is performed to identify the key mechanisms, which are involved in the impact or crushing and the subsequent damage tolerance. These factors are then properly modelled by analytical or finite element techniques in a continuing effort to develop a methodology to accurately predict the behaviour of complex composite structures. |
| Also pursuing research in: Design and development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), repair of composite structures, bolted and bonded joints, damage detection employing low frequency Lamb waves generated by smart piezoelectric devices, and scaling effects (size) on strength. |
| Professor Soutis research has been supported by a variety of agencies, including the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), The Royal Society, The Royal Academy of Engineering, NATO, the Defence Evaluation & Research Agency (DERA), the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), the European Union (EU), Airbus UK, Smiths Aerospace, BAE Systems, ABB Research, Hexcel Composites, the Advanced Composites Group (ACG Ltd) and the Institute of Mechanics of Materials & Geostructures (IMMG-Athens).
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